access icon free PV module behaviour on the substring level under real conditions monitored by junction box electronic device Jubomer

© The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Received 05/02/2019, Accepted 15/08/2019, Revised 29/07/2019, Published 19/08/2019

Understanding the degradation of a photovoltaic (PV) system is crucial for predicting the behaviour of a PV system or acting quickly in case of strong PV module degradation. A novel concept with Wi-Fi devices for monitoring the substring voltages of PV modules is presented and case studies of PV modules' substring voltages during operation of the PV system are reported on. A new electronic device called Jubomer was custom developed to fit into the junction box of a PV module and to measure the voltages of each module substring. The analysis of substring voltages shows that this methodology can reveal problematic modules without conducting a comprehensive testing procedure on disconnected PV modules. The results of the voltage measurements are also linked with the detailed analysis of a PV module using an electroluminescence imaging technique, which verifies the proposed concept.

Inspec keywords: condition monitoring; photovoltaic power systems; electroluminescence; solar cell arrays; wireless LAN

Other keywords: electroluminescence imaging technique; voltage measurement; photovoltaic system; junction box electronic device Jubomer; Wi-Fi devices; condition monitoring; PV module degradation

Subjects: Photoelectric conversion; solar cells and arrays; Solar cells and arrays; Computer communications; Solar power stations and photovoltaic power systems

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