Electroluminescence test to investigate the humidity effect on solar cells operation

Year: 2018

Authors: Fontani D., Sansoni P., Francini F., Messeri M., Pierucci G., DeLucia M., Jafrancesco D.

Autors Affiliation: CNR-INO National Institute of Optics, Largo E. Fermi, 50125 6—Firenze, Italy; Department DIEF, University of Florence, Via Santa Marta, 50139 3—Firenze, Italy

Abstract: The electroluminescence test is an experiment typically used to verify the behavior of the photovoltaic cell and to qualitatively check its integrity. It works by operating the photovoltaic cell as a diode polarized directly: the cells that light up in a module indicate how many of them work. This test provides an estimate of the maximum performance of the entire photovoltaic module. A qualitative inspection was performed by electroluminescence tests on 48 modules of photovoltaic cells. They had already been installed on a small-size concentration solar plant before the test and some modules had reached a lower level of performance than expected. A first electroluminescence test was performed, which showed that only 61.5% of the photocells worked. Since there were visible signs of humidity within the various modules, some of the inoperative modules underwent a dehumidification treatment in a climatic chamber. A second electroluminescence test showed that the percentage of functioning cells had increased to 66.3% after the drying treatment.

Journal/Review: ENERGIES

Volume: 11(10)      Pages from: 2659-1  to: 2659-15

KeyWords: Atmospheric humidity; Electroluminescence; Humidity control; Photoelectrochemical cells; Photovoltaic cells; Solar cells; Testing, Climatic chamber; Drying treatment; Electroluminescence test; Humidity effects; Photovoltaic; Photovoltaic modules; Solar plant, Photovoltaic effects
DOI: 10.3390/en11102659

Citations: 5
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