Online distributed measurement of dark i–v curves in photovoltaic plants

Abstract

The inspection techniques for defects in photovoltaic modules are diverse. Among them, the inspection with measurements using current–voltage (I‐V) curves is one of the most outstanding. I‐V curves, which can be carried under illumination or in dark conditions, are widely used to detect certain defects in photovoltaic modules. In a traditional way, these measurements are carried out by disconnecting the photovoltaic module from the string inside the photovoltaic plant. In this work, the researchers propose a methodology to perform online dark I‐V curves of modules in photovoltaic plants without the need of disconnecting them from the string. For this, a combination of electronic boards in the photovoltaic modules and a bidirectional inverter are employed. The results are highly promising, and this methodology could be widely used in upcoming photovoltaic plants.