Speaker
Description
Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) module mismatch, arising from partial shading, soiling, and cell degradation, results in non-uniform current distribution and localized Joule heating, reducing system efficiency and accelerating material degradation. This study presents an experimental investigation of thermal signatures associated with mismatch conditions in crystalline silicon PV modules using infrared (IR) thermography under outdoor operating conditions. Controlled mismatch scenarios were introduced, including artificial defects and shading patterns, at irradiance levels ranging from 650 to 950 W/m². High-resolution thermographic measurements were used to analyze temperature distributions and identify hotspot formation. The results reveal distinct and repeatable thermal signatures associated with different mismatch conditions. Localized temperature differentials (ΔT) ranged from approximately 6 °C under mild mismatch to above 28 °C under severe shading. A strong correlation between mismatch severity and temperature gradient was observed, with hotspot intensity increasing nonlinearly with imposed current mismatch. Cell-level defects produced highly localized hotspots, while string-level mismatch resulted in broader thermal bands associated with bypass diode activation. These findings demonstrate that infrared thermography is a sensitive and reliable diagnostic tool for detecting and classifying mismatch faults in PV modules under real operating conditions. The study establishes quantitative ΔT thresholds for fault severity assessment and highlights the applicability of thermographic monitoring for improving the performance and reliability of PV systems, particularly in high-irradiance environments.
Keywords:
Photovoltaic modules; infrared thermography; PV mismatch; hotspot detection; Joule heating; thermal signatures; fault diagnostics; solar energy systems
| Apply for student award at which level: | None |
|---|---|
| Consent on use of personal information: Abstract Submission | Yes, I ACCEPT |