Development of real time hotspot detection system using scan-method for PV generation system

This paper presents a development of real time hotspot detection system using scan-method about the PV solar panel I-V characteristic to distinguish between normal cells and hot-spot cells depending on the changes of the panel output current in real time. The current changes help to detect the hot-spot phenomenon. In case if partial shadowing occurs to the PV panel, the power conditioning system (PCS) gives an immediate judgment whether hot-spot arises from one of the cells or not by applying the scan-method. The PCS is programed to calculate the current rate depending on the difference in the current divided by the short circuit current. From the experimental results, it is clarified that the hot-spot cells can be determined regardless of the solar intensity radiation.