Hotspots in Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation Research

What is a hotspot in a PV module?

One of the challenges in today's PV modules is the well-known phenomenon called hotspots 4. A hotspot is a localized heat source that can be present in part (s) of the PV module, leading to locally increased temperature in the solar cells. An example of a PV module affected by hotspots is shown in Fig. 1.

Are solar modules hot spot failures?

The short-term failure distribution of solar modules in the US. Several tests have been developed by Simon et al. to research the PV module hot spot failure mechanism . This study investigated the influence of various string lengths with bypass diodes, shading ratio and cell leakage current on PV module temperature.

What is a hot spot effect in a PV module?

3. The mechanism of hot spot effect Hot spot heating occurs in a PV module when its operating current exceeds the reduced short-circuit current (Isc) of a shadowed or faulty cell or group of cells. When such a condition occurs, the affected cell or group of cells is forced into reverse bias and dissipates power, which can cause local overheating.

Are hot spots prevalent in PV panels in operation?

The hot spots are prevalent in PV panels in operation. In order to provide theoretical support for PV operation and maintenance, this study first researched the formation mechanism of hot spots of PV panels and provided a theoretical basis for the classification of hot spots in PV panels.

Which solar cells are used to conduct hot spot experiments?

Solar cells with different defect types and solar modules with different output power were picked to conduct the hot spot experiments.

How do PV hotspots affect the physical and thermal image?

The physical and thermal image of a PV module is affected by hotspots; the thermal image is captured using a FLIR i5 thermal imaging camera, which has a thermal sensitivity of ± 1 \ (^\circ \) C. There are currently undergoing investigations on how PV hotspots occur in PV modules.