Inspecting series resistance effects and bypass diode failure using contactless outdoor photoluminescence imaging

Bhoopathy, Raghavi; Kunz, Oliver; Juhl, Mattias K.; Trupke, Thorsten; Hameiri, Ziv

doi:10.1109/pvsc.2018.8547301

Cited by 9 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…without requiring changes to the existing electrical connections since this is simpler, faster and does not require expensive highly qualified personnel. To achieve this, our recently proposed method exploits the fact that a standard crystalline Si PV module has three sub‐strings. Here a sub‐string is defined as a section of series connected cells that are connected in parallel to one BPD.…”

Section: Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Outdoor photoluminescence imaging of solar panels by contactless switching: Technical considerations and applications

Bhoopathy

Kunz

Juhl

et al. 2019

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Monitoring the performance of solar modules in a photovoltaic system is critical in order to understand the health of the system. Existing methods for field inspection have limited capability of detecting various electronic defects that can, however, be identified with luminescence‐based methods. A contactless outdoor photoluminescence‐imaging based measurement method that uses the sun as the excitation source was presented in our earlier work. This paper extends our previous work and presents two unique applications to (a) identify and quantify local areas of high series resistance within the cells and (b) identify bypass diodes that have failed in open‐circuit. The paper also discusses specific technical considerations of this method. The main merit of this method is that it can be used when the module is under normal operation in the field, without requiring changing of the electrical wiring of the photovoltaic array.

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Section: Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Outdoor photoluminescence imaging of solar panels by contactless switching: Technical considerations and applications

Bhoopathy

Kunz

Juhl

et al. 2019

Progress in Photovoltaics

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“…Outdoor luminescence imaging has therefore been carried out in the dark, [17][18][19] very low light conditions [20][21][22] as well as in daylight. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] The basis of photoluminescence (PL) imaging is charge carrier excitation with an illumination source which can be a laser, 6,21 LEDs, 2,36 or sunlight. [27][28][29][30][31]34,35 However, the reflected light from the illumination source needs to be accounted for.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] The basis of photoluminescence (PL) imaging is charge carrier excitation with an illumination source which can be a laser, 6,21 LEDs, 2,36 or sunlight. [27][28][29][30][31]34,35 However, the reflected light from the illumination source needs to be accounted for. If the wavelength of the reflected signal does not coincide with the emitted PL signal, reflection can be eliminated by use of optical filters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The reflected signal needs to be subtracted. [27][28][29][30][31]34,35 The need to subtract the unwanted reflection from the module has resulted in an approach in which a pair of images in two different operating points is alternately recorded. The image recorded in the operating point in which the module emits less signal is subtracted from the image recorded in the operating point in which the module emits more signal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photoluminescence imaging of silicon modules in a string

Vuković

Høiaas

Jakovljević

et al. 2022

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Spectral imaging techniques are a powerful tool for surveillance and monitoring of degradation mechanisms in PV modules. Luminescence images of solar modules have until recently been predominantly acquired in controlled laboratory settings. Recent attempts have been made in detecting luminescence in daylight. This study aims to present a proof of concept for detection of photoluminescence with sunlight excitation. It enables imaging of several modules in a string as well as several strings simultaneously by changing the operating point through wireless and contactless communication with one or more string inverters. This new approach is validated with the electroluminescence technique as well as with an already established photoluminescence technique under sunlight excitation. Due to the string inverter's reaction time, the change in illumination results in lower image quality. However, with a more up-to-date imaging equipment, this approach is promising for identification of certain degradation mechanisms which can be detected with lower resolution such as large area damage and inactive areas. Further studies are needed to optimize the method and potentially use it in connection with an unmanned aerial vehicle inspection.

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“…In this study, we investigated the application of the pulsed light irradiation (PLI) method for BPC-OC failure detection without shutting down the PVS. A similar irradiation method has been employed for outdoor photoluminescence imaging 24,28 ; however, the objective was not to detect BPC-OC failures. First, the working principle of the PLI method for BPC-OC failure detection is explained in detail.…”

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confidence: 99%

On‐site detection of bypass circuit opening failure in photovoltaic array under power generation operation

Baba

Itami

Yamada

2020

Energy Science & Engineering

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To ensure the long‐term reliability of photovoltaic systems (PVSs), periodical inspections are necessary. Despite the risk of severe temperature rise, bypass circuit open‐circuit (BPC‐OC) failure has attracted low research interest compared with other types of failure. This paper presents the pulsed light irradiation (PLI) method for robust BPC‐OC failure detection that eliminates the need to switch off the power generation operation of the PVS. The proposed method detects the BPC‐OC failure of the solar cell string by measuring the modulated current induced by local PLI. Electrical circuit simulations as well as indoor and outdoor experiments are performed to verify the performance of the proposed method. Results of the outdoor experiment show that the PLI method performs well in a real PVS under power generation operation. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method are summarized.

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Inspecting series resistance effects and bypass diode failure using contactless outdoor photoluminescence imaging

Cited by 9 publications

References 6 publications

Outdoor photoluminescence imaging of solar panels by contactless switching: Technical considerations and applications

Outdoor photoluminescence imaging of solar panels by contactless switching: Technical considerations and applications

Photoluminescence imaging of silicon modules in a string

On‐site detection of bypass circuit opening failure in photovoltaic array under power generation operation

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