Defects Detection in Bi-Facial Photovoltaic Modules PV Using Pulsed Thermography

The importance of photovoltaic modules PV as inexhaustible energy systems is a well-known necessity. Their reliability and durability are the keys of the overall performance and the system warranty. To ensure the reliability of these systems, reliable predictive and preventive maintenance techniques are required. The infrared pulsed thermography (PT) could be a quick and simple diagnostic tool to detect defects that occur during the manufacture or during the operation of these energy systems, these defects can cause significant losses in the output performance. In this paper, using the pulsed infrared thermography and a 3D finite element computation software COMSOL Multiphysics, we have simulated a mono-crystalline bi-facial photo voltaic panel with different types of defects especially defects of delamination, hot spots, cracked cell, glass and cracked busbars. The thermograms and the curves obtained were analyzed to identify the possible differences between the temperature responses of the studied cases, in order to know the causes of the power output reduction. The obtained results were compared with other related works.