Systems, methods and tools for estimating PV module and array power loss attributable to partial shading or soiling of a PV module and array
| DWPI Title: Method for detecting and quantifying light-blocking material or partial shading on photovoltaic modules and determining loss of module power, involves stabilizing full-field images to compensate for camera movement, and selecting unsoiled image to accurately determine module positions |
| Abstract: Arrays of photovoltaic modules produce power as a result of incident solar radiation. The amount of radiation reaching a solar cell can be decreased due to light-blocking matter adhering to the module surface. The light-blocking or soiling matter can be snow, dirt, or other particulates such as pollen or excrement, and can be detected on the module surface using visible light photography. We have developed an automated image processing routine to estimate the power loss on a photovoltaic array due to partial surface shading, soiling or coverage from time-series visible light photographs. This tool can inform the design of PV systems optimized for particular operating environments, resulting in more efficient PV systems, can be used to inform the development of new technologies, such as anti-soiling coatings, and can help validate the accuracy of PV performance models in locations that see high rates of soiling. |
| Use: Method for detecting and quantifying light-blocking material or partial shading on PV modules and determining loss of module power. |
| Advantage: The method enables allowing light-blocking by soiling and shading by an object during design of a photovoltaic power plant by determining shading/soiling factors for specific geographic areas and times of year, thus providing deployment of higher efficiency systems, and hence providing PV asset owners with data needed to make decisions to clean panels of snow or dirt, and evaluating cost and efficacy of alternative strategies such as anti-soiling coatings. |
| Novelty: The method involves creating time-series of images for each module. Light-blocking material (LBM) or shading coverage is mapped on each module image. A model of power output of photovoltaic (PV) modules (14) is created. Power loss of the one or multiple PV modules are quantified by executing the model of power output. PV modules operational parameters are determined using quantified power loss. Temporal metrics are generated for comparing shedding rates of LBM from the modules. Full-field images are stabilized to compensate for movement of a camera (30). An unsoiled image is selected to accurately determine module positions. |
| Filed: 6/13/2022 |
| Application Number: US17839046A |
| Tech ID: SD 15707.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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