Dealing in practice with hot-spots

• DOI: 10.13140/2.1.3066.7528
• Publication Date: 2014-10-30
• Authors: R. B. Moreton; E. Lorenzo; Jonathan Leloux; J.M. Carrillo
• Keywords: Telecomunicaciones; Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors; Operation of PV Systems and Plants; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; FOS: Physical sciences; Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det); 02 engineering and technology; OPERATIONS, PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY OF PHOTOVOLTAICS (from Cells to Systems); 7. Clean energy

The hot-spot phenomenon is a relatively frequent problem occurring in current photovoltaic generators. It entails both risk for the module's lifetime and decrease its operational efficiency. Nevertheless, there still lack of widely accepted procedures dealing with them practice. This paper presents IES-UPM observations on 200 affected modules. Visual infrared inspection, electroluminescence, peak power operating voltage tests have been accomplished. Hot-spot observation well defined acceptance rejection criteria are proposed, addressing efficiency has come out as best parameter to control effective losses procedure oriented possible application contractual frameworks.