Thermal Hotspot Detection Systems for Solar Cell Arrays

Solar panel fire detection system that enables early detection of solar panel failures through thermal monitoring of the wiring cable. The system employs a thermocouple-based wire sensor positioned along the solar panel's electrical wiring, specifically between the panel and the roof. This positioning allows the sensor to detect temperature anomalies without direct exposure to the solar panel's radiant heat, thereby enabling the detection of thermal failures before they ignite.

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A device for detecting defects in photovoltaic cells through precise infrared radiation measurement. The device comprises a frame with two contact points, a motorized movement system, and an infrared sensor positioned along a straight line connecting the contact points. The infrared sensor measures radiation intensity across the cell surface, with a precision measurement zone defined by a 100 cm radius. The device's motorized movement system enables precise positioning of the sensor along the cell's surface, enabling accurate detection of defects that may not be visible with conventional thermal imaging methods.

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Solar cell with improved power generation efficiency through enhanced thermal management. The cell features a back surface bonded solar cell architecture where the solar cell's back surface is bonded to the substrate, with an electrode structure comprising a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode separated by a groove. The back surface is formed from amorphous silicon or microcrystalline silicon, with discrete grain structures. A laser-induced removal of the transparent conductive layer creates a thermal pathway for heat dissipation. A second laser step re-irradiates the removed layer, bypassing the thermal pathway and preventing hot spot formation. This design enables enhanced thermal management while maintaining the structural integrity of the solar cell.

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Method and device for evaluating the quality of electrical contacts between solar cells and contacting units through a novel approach using luminescence imaging. The method employs spatially resolved luminescence analysis to quantify contact quality by analyzing the intensity distribution of emitted light from the solar cell during electrical contact. This approach bypasses traditional current-voltage measurements, eliminating the need for extensive contact mapping or current-circuit analysis. The method can be applied to both single-element contacts and multi-element arrays, enabling rapid evaluation of contact integrity across the solar cell array.

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Solar cell module with early failure detection through thermal monitoring. The module incorporates a heat-sensitive layer on the light-receiving surface that develops color when exceeding predetermined temperature thresholds. This color change is detected through visual inspection or camera-based monitoring, enabling prompt maintenance of the solar cell array.

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A method to detect and prevent thermal hotspots in solar cells using infrared imaging. The method employs a controlled reverse voltage test to identify cells with excessive temperature increases, then uses infrared imaging to visualize the thermal hotspots. By detecting cells with temperatures above 20V and maintaining them for 200ms, the method identifies cells with high thermal risk. This enables the identification of potential thermal hotspots in solar cells before they become critical, allowing manufacturers to select and avoid cells with these thermal issues during production.

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