Solar cell junction temperature measurement of PV module

B.J. Huang, P.E. Yang, Y.P. Lin, B.Y. Lin, H.J. Chen, R.C. Lai, J.S. Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study develops a simple non-destructive method to measure the solar cell junction temperature of PV module. The PV module was put in the environmental chamber with precise temperature control to keep the solar PV module as well as the cell junction in thermal equilibrium with the chamber. The open-circuit voltage of PV module Voc is then measured using a short pulse of solar irradiation provided by a solar simulator. Repeating the measurements at different environment temperature (40-80°C) and solar irradiation S (200-1000W/m2), the correlation between the open-circuit voltage Voc, the junction temperature Tj, and solar irradiation S is derived.The fundamental correlation of the PV module is utilized for on-site monitoring of solar cell junction temperature using the measured Voc and S at a short time instant with open circuit. The junction temperature Tj is then determined using the measured S and Voc through the fundamental correlation. The outdoor test results show that the junction temperature measured using the present method, Tjo, is more accurate. The maximum error using the average surface temperature Tave as the junction temperature is 4.8 °C underestimation; while the maximum error using the present method is 1.3 °C underestimation. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)388-392
Number of pages5
JournalSolar Energy
Volume85
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011
Externally publishedYes

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