Methods of Measuring and Evaluating Power Losses in Solar Cell, Solar Module, and Solar Facilities by Means of Photographic Luminescence and Thermography Measurements

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This patent describes an improved method for measuring and evaluating power losses and quality in solar cells, solar modules, and solar facilities. It uses photographic luminescence (emitted light under applied voltage) and thermography (thermal images) to capture multiple images at different voltages. By comparing and mathematically analyzing these images, the method provides precise, localized, and quantitative data on the performance and defects of solar devices, enabling accurate quality control.

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• Automated quality control during solar cell and module manufacturing.
• Non-destructive defect detection in solar cells and modules before installation, especially for transport damage analysis.
• Performance monitoring and fault diagnosis in installed solar farms to detect issues like degradation, dirt, or damage.
• Research and development for optimizing solar cell and module design and fabrication processes.
• Routine maintenance programs for utility-scale solar installations.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Quantitative and localized measurement of solar cell and module performance, offering much higher diagnostic accuracy compared to traditional qualitative methods.
• Ability to detect and map defects or inefficiencies at the pixel level, allowing early intervention and repair.
• Improved yield and reliability of solar products due to enhanced process and quality control.
• Non-destructive and rapid testing, suitable for high-throughput factory environments as well as field maintenance.
• Clear, objective, and easy-to-interpret results that directly correlate with energy production efficiency, leading to optimized operation and maintenance costs.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the quality of a solar cell with the following steps: - a first voltage (V1) less than or equal to zero is applied to a solar cell and the light emitted by the solar cell is photographed in order to obtain a first image; - a second voltage (V2) greater than zero is preferably applied to the solar cell and the light emitted by the solar cell is photographed in order to obtain a second image; - a third voltage (V3) greater than zero and less than the second voltage is applied to the solar cell and the light emitted by the solar cell is photographed in order to obtain a third image; - a fourth voltage (V4) greater than the second and/or third voltage is applied to the solar cell and the light emitted by the solar cell is photographed in order to obtain a fourth image; - either a first difference (D1) is formed between the pixel values of the photographs at the first and second voltage; - a second difference (D2) is formed between the images at the third and fourth voltage; - the quotient between the first and the second difference is formed. - or the voltage V2 corresponds to the point of maximum power extraction, - and the image belonging to the first voltage (V1) is subtracted pixel by pixel from the image at the second voltage (V2) in order to obtain a first difference image (D1); - the mean value M of all pixels of this difference image is formed; - the image at the third voltage (V3) is subtracted pixel by pixel from the image at the fourth voltage (V4) in order to obtain a second difference image (D2); - the values of the second difference image are divided by the determined mean value in order to obtain an image that quantitatively represents the inhomogeneity of power dissipation. - Instead of the luminescence images, thermography images are recorded at the voltages V3 and V4 and a difference image is formed.