Correlation of Infrared Thermal Imaging Results with Visual Inspection and Current-Voltage Data of PV Modules Installed in Kumasi, a Hot, Humid Region of Sub-Saharan Africa

Takyi, G.

doi:10.3390/technologies5040067

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Research efforts over the last decades have been devoted to the demonstration of the applicability of the technique in outdoor conditions [27], and to the correlation between thermal images pattern and fault typology [28].…”

Section: Thermal Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

On Field Infrared Thermography Sensing for PV System Efficiency Assessment: Results and Comparison with Electrical Models

Muttillo

Nardi

Stornelli

et al. 2020

Sensors

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The evaluation of photovoltaic (PV) system’s efficiency loss, due to the onset of faults that reduce the output power, is crucial. The challenge is to speed up the evaluation of electric efficiency by coupling the electric characterization of panels with information gathered from module diagnosis, amongst which the most commonly employed technique is thermographic inspection. The aim of this work is to correlate panels’ thermal images with their efficiency: a “thermal signature” of panels can be of help in identifying the fault typology and, moreover, for assessing efficiency loss. This allows to identify electrical power output losses without interrupting the PV system operation thanks to an advanced PV thermography characterization. In this paper, 12 faulted working panels were investigated. Their electrical models were implemented in MATLAB environment and developed to retrieve the ideal I-V characteristic (from ratings), the actual (operative) I-V characteristics and electric efficiency. Given the curves shape and relative difference, based on three reference points (namely, open circuit, short circuit, and maximum power points), faults’ typology has been evidenced. Information gathered from infrared thermography imaging, simultaneously carried out on panels during operation, were matched with those from electrical characterization. Panels’ “thermal signature” has been coupled with the “electrical signature”, to obtain an overall depiction of panels’ health status.

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Section: Thermal Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

On Field Infrared Thermography Sensing for PV System Efficiency Assessment: Results and Comparison with Electrical Models

Muttillo

Nardi

Stornelli

et al. 2020

Sensors

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show abstract

“…However, these effects are difficult to interpret without careful anslysis of the interconnection between thermal anomalies and electrical operation behavior. The analysis of IR images can determine the faults typology and power loss of PV modules [10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Features Extraction for Fault Detection Using Thermography Characteristics and IV Measurements of CIGS Thin-Film Module

Eltuhamy¹,

Rady²,

Ibrahim³

et al. 2020

I2M

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Regarding the fault diagnosis of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) PV modules, previously published articles focused on employing statistical analysis of thermography images. This approach failed in many cases to distinguish among fault types. This article presents a novel methodology to diagnose and predict faults of thin-film CIGS PV modules using infrared thermography analysis combined with measurements of I-V characteristics. The proposed methodology encompasses a comprehensive site work to capture images that cover many fault types of the PV module under study. The novelty of the technique depends on utilizing processing and analysis of the captured images using new proposed mathematical parameters to extract different faults’ features. Using I-V measurements combined with thermography analysis, the differences between different types of faults are detected. Then, a general classification matrix of CIGS fault detection and diagnosis, using features based on mathematical parameters and IV measurements has been established. Results show that the analysis of the temperature distribution is proved to be insufficient to identify specific modes of different faults. In addition, the proposed procedure for fault detection and classification, which depends on the pattern of faults, can be used for any type of PV module. This results in more reliance on the proposed technique to increase the confidence level of fault detection.

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Defect Detection and Degradation Analysis in Photovoltaic Modules using Thermography, Spectroscopy, and Current–Voltage Measurements, and Quantitative Assessment of Their Impact

Akram

Jin

et al. 2020

Energy Tech

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The measurement of defects in photovoltaic (PV) module and their impact assessment can help to improve the reliability and performance of PV systems. Herein, improved defect detection and degradation analysis approach using the combination of infrared (IR) thermography, electroluminescence emission spectroscopy, and current–voltage (I–V) measurements are presented. Moreover, an image‐processing scheme to automatically detect and compute defective area is also proposed. First, experiments are conducted on normal operating modules. Subsequently, different defects and failures are induced, and experiments are conducted again. These modules are analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. From IR images, defective area, overheating, and underheating computations are carried out. From I–V measurements, power losses, current degradation, and voltage degradation calculations are carried out. The defects that show up in IR images are correlated with I–V curve deviations and their effect on power losses and current/voltage degradation is also analyzed. Moreover, electroluminescence emissions of defective regions are correlated with overheating/underheating calculations. Finally, the observations from experimental results and related quantitative/qualitative computations are summarized. This approach can help to investigate module degradation stage and mode. It can also help in decision making with the use of only IR imaging and related computations in absence of optimum measurement conditions.

show abstract

Correlation of Infrared Thermal Imaging Results with Visual Inspection and Current-Voltage Data of PV Modules Installed in Kumasi, a Hot, Humid Region of Sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

On Field Infrared Thermography Sensing for PV System Efficiency Assessment: Results and Comparison with Electrical Models

On Field Infrared Thermography Sensing for PV System Efficiency Assessment: Results and Comparison with Electrical Models

Novel Features Extraction for Fault Detection Using Thermography Characteristics and IV Measurements of CIGS Thin-Film Module

Defect Detection and Degradation Analysis in Photovoltaic Modules using Thermography, Spectroscopy, and Current–Voltage Measurements, and Quantitative Assessment of Their Impact

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