Evaluation of the PV Cell Operation Temperature in the Process of Fast Switching to Open-Circuit Mode

A procedure for measuring the overheating temperature (ΔT ) of a p-n junction area in the structure of photovoltaic (PV) cells converting laser or solar radiations relative to the ambient temperature has been proposed for the conditions of connecting to an electric load. The basis of the procedure is the measurement of the open-circuit voltage (V_OC ) during the initial time period after the fast disconnection of the external resistive load. The simultaneous temperature control on an external heated part of a PV module gives the means for determining the value of VOC at ambient temperature. Comparing it with that measured after switching OFF the load makes the calculation of ΔT possible. Calibration data on the V_OC = f(T ) dependences for single-junction AlGaAs/GaAs and triple-junction InGaP/GaAs/Ge PV cells are presented. The temperature dynamics in the PV cells has been determined under flash illumination and during fast commutation of the load. Temperature measurements were taken in two cases: converting continuous laser power by single-junction cells and converting solar power by triple-junction cells operating in the concentrator modules.