Passive Electroluminescence and Photoluminescence Imaging Acquisition of Photovoltaic Modules

• Published in: Sensors
• Main Authors: Alberto Redondo-Plaza, José Ignacio Morales-Aragonés, Sara Gallardo-Saavedra, Héctor Felipe Mateo-Romero, Santiago Araujo-Rendón, Ángel L. Zorita-Lamadrid, Víctor Alonso-Gómez, Luis Hernández-Callejo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2024-02-01
• Subjects: renewable energy; solar energy; photovoltaic; inspection techniques; luminescence; electroluminescence
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/5/1539

In photovoltaic power plant inspections, techniques for module assessment play a crucial role as they enhance fault detection and module characterization. One valuable technique is luminescence. The present paper introduces a novel technique termed passive luminescence. It enhances both electroluminescence and photoluminescence imaging acquisition in photovoltaic power plants under normal operation in high irradiance conditions. This technique is based on the development of an electronic board, which allows the polarity of the module to be changed, enabling the current generated by the photovoltaic string to be injected into the module and producing electroluminescence effects. Additionally, the board can bypass the module and set an open circuit, inducing photoluminescence emission using sunlight as an excitation source. The proper coordination of the board and an InGaAs camera with a bandpass filter has allowed for the integration of a <i>lock-in</i> technique, which has produced electroluminescence and photoluminescence pictures that can be used for fault detection.