Photovoltaic condition monitoring using real-time adaptive parameter identification

This paper presents the design and experimental demonstration of a method for photovoltaic condition monitoring and hot-spot detection using a real-time adaptive parameter identification approach. The identification algorithm tracks parameters in an equivalent ac circuit model of a PV panel, and uses these parameter estimates to predict when the PV panel is partially shaded or in a hot-spot condition. The proposed hot-spot detection method has low computational overhead and requires only passive electrical measurements at the terminal of the PV panel. We present simulation and experimental results that demonstrate the accuracy of the parameter identifier and its ability to detect partial shading in a 10 W monocrystalline silicon solar panel.