An investigation into hot‐spots in two large grid‐connected PV plants

This paper details an investigation into the appearance of hot-spots in two large grid-connected photovoltaics (PV) plants, which were detected after the visual inspection of trackers whose energy output was decreasing at anomalous rate. Detected hot-spots appeared not only in the solar cells but also in resistive solder bonds (RSB) between cells and contact ribbons. Both types cause similar irreversible damage to the PV modules, but the latter are the main responsible for the detected decrease in energy output, which was confirmed in an experimental testing campaign. The results of this investigation, for example, how hot-spots were detected or their impact on the output power of PV modules, may be of interest for the routine maintenance of large grid-connected PV plants.

[1]  G. G. Stokes.  "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[2]  W. Herrmann,et al.  Hot spot tests for crystalline silicon modules , 2005, Conference Record of the Thirty-first IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2005..

[3]  W. Herrmann,et al.  Thermal and electrical effects caused by outdoor hot‐spot testing in associations of photovoltaic cells , 2003 .

[4]  D. L. King,et al.  Photovoltaic module performance and durability following long‐term field exposure , 2000 .

[5]  J. A. Kratochvil,et al.  Applications for infrared imaging equipment in photovoltaic cell, module, and system testing , 2000, Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036).

[6]  J. A. del Cueto,et al.  Comparison of Degradation Rates of Individual Modules Held at Maximum Power , 2006, 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conference.

[7]  Miss A.O. Penney.  (b) , 1974, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[8]  W. Herrmann,et al.  Hot spot investigations on PV modules-new concepts for a test standard and consequences for module design with respect to bypass diodes , 1997, Conference Record of the Twenty Sixth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1997.

[9]  Jürgen Dodt,et al.  De , 2003, KN - Journal of Cartography and Geographic Information.

[10]  K. Bucher,et al.  Reverse characteristics of commercial silicon solar cells-impact on hot spot temperatures and module integrity , 1997, Conference Record of the Twenty Sixth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1997.

[11]  D. L. King,et al.  Commonly observed degradation in field-aged photovoltaic modules , 2002, Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002..

[12]  F. Chenlo,et al.  Experimental study of mismatch and shading effects in the I-V characteristic of a photovoltaic module , 2006 .