Verification activities on the PV plant of PlanetSolar Tûranor catamaran after 5 ... · 2016. 5....
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Instute for Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment Verificaon acvies on the PV plant of PlanetSolar Tûranor catamaran aſter 5 years of navigaon. Mauro Caccivio (1) , Lia Dion (2) , Maeo Marzoli (1) , Enrico Burà (1) , Sebasan Dimann (1) , Pascal Goulpiè (2) (1) University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Instute for Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment (ISAAC), Campus Trevano, 6952 Canobbio, Switzerland (2) PlanetSolar SA - Rue Mercerie 1, CH-1003 Lausanne 1. Electroluminescence test on 365 modules 2. Performance test on strings and modules Abstract On Site Activities Module classification MS Tûranor PlanetSolar is a Swiss catamaran and the largest solar vessel ever built. From September 2010 to May 2012, it was the first solar-powered boat to circumnavigate the world. In 2015, aſter two further successful expedions and five years of operaon, the vessel was donated to the foundaon "Race for Water” which is dedicated to the preservaon of water. SUPSI was contacted to verify the health status of the solar generator. The operaon was performed on site, in the harbour of Lorient, France. In view of the short me available and of the variable weather condions, half of the modules were demounted and verified with an electroluminescence test inside the boat. These modules were from the lower voltage strings. A selecon of modules was tested on deck, in direct sun, with a high precision IV tracer. This quickly determined the correlaon between the electroluminescence images and power performance. All modules were the same, with back-contact high efficiency solar cells. Finally, the electrical performances of the strings on deck were evaluated and an infrared camera was used to verify the presence of hot spots. The acvity was successful in order to classify the quality status of all 809 modules and to set the proper requirements to build new, homogeneous strings, in order to maximize the power. The modules with representave defects were delivered to the PVLab at SUPSI and the classificaon of failures is in progress. In order to classify the modules removed from the deck and to decide which modules to reinstall, 365 electroluminescence pictures were recorded. Based on the type and number of defects, each module was given a new locaon on the boat’s solar deck. String classification The performance check was done on 18th August 2015. The weather condions were stable with high irradiance. In order to measure the performance of the plant, in parcular the accurate performance of the DC side of the plant, all strings currently installed and connected were measured. The performance was measured using an I-V tracer HALM CETIS PV-CT-F1, an instrument capable of high accuracy measurements. The I-V curves were then corrected to STC condion in order to compare the results to the nominal power. In order to crosscheck the results of the electroluminescence performed on the modules, a sample of the modules were measured using an outdoor I-V tracer. Type A: no defects Type B: different grades Type C: Sucon cup print. Type D: Microcracks. Type E: banding. Type F: Dark cells Type G: Cell corrosion Type H: Broken cell. Type I: Light moisture Type J: Strong moisture Type K: Diodes failure. Type L: Open circuit 3. Performance test and failure modes classi- fication at SUPSI PVLab (in progress) We have recently received at SUPSI PVLab a selecon of modules with different types of defects. The tests for their electrical characterizaon and for a detailed classificaon of defects are in progress. The first results give a good match between on- site measurements and indoor tesng.
Transcript of Verification activities on the PV plant of PlanetSolar Tûranor catamaran after 5 ... · 2016. 5....
Institute for Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment
Verification activities on the PV plant of PlanetSolar Tûranor catamaran after 5 years of navigation.
Mauro Caccivio(1) , Lia Ditton(2), Matteo Marzoli(1), Enrico Burà(1), Sebastian Dittmann(1), Pascal Goulpiè(2) (1) University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Institute for Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment (ISAAC), Campus Trevano, 6952 Canobbio, Switzerland
(2) PlanetSolar SA - Rue Mercerie 1, CH-1003 Lausanne
1. Electroluminescence test on 365 modules 2. Performance test on strings and modules
Abstract
On
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ite
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ctivitie
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Module classification
MS Tûranor PlanetSolar is a Swiss catamaran and the largest solar vessel ever built. From September 2010 to May 2012, it was the first solar-powered boat to circumnavigate the world. In 2015, after two further successful expeditions and five years of operation, the vessel was donated to the foundation "Race for Water” which is dedicated to the preservation of water. SUPSI was contacted to verify the health status of the solar generator. The operation was performed on site, in the harbour of Lorient, France. In view of the short time available and of the variable weather conditions, half of the modules were demounted and verified with an electroluminescence test inside the boat. These modules were from the lower voltage strings. A selection of modules was tested on deck, in direct sun, with a high precision IV tracer. This quickly determined the correlation between the electroluminescence images and power performance. All modules were the same, with back-contact high efficiency solar cells. Finally, the electrical performances of the strings on deck were evaluated and an infrared camera was used to verify the presence of hot spots. The activity was successful in order to classify the quality status of all 809 modules and to set the proper requirements to build new, homogeneous strings, in order to maximize the power. The modules with representative defects were delivered to the PVLab at SUPSI and the classification of failures is in progress.
In order to classify the modules removed from the deck and to decide which modules to reinstall, 365 electroluminescence pictures were recorded. Based on the type and number of defects, each module was given a new location on the boat’s solar deck.
String classification
The performance check was done on 18th August 2015. The weather conditions were stable with high irradiance. In order to measure the performance of the plant, in particular the accurate performance of the DC side of the plant, all strings currently installed and connected were measured. The performance was measured using an I-V tracer HALM CETIS PV-CT-F1, an instrument capable of high accuracy measurements. The I-V curves were then corrected to STC condition in order to compare the results to the nominal power. In order to crosscheck the results of the electroluminescence performed on the modules, a sample of the modules were measured using an outdoor I-V tracer.
Type A: no defects Type B: different grades Type C: Suction cup print. Type D: Microcracks.
Type E: banding. Type F: Dark cells Type G: Cell corrosion Type H: Broken cell.
Type I: Light moisture Type J: Strong moisture Type K: Diodes failure. Type L: Open circuit
3. Performance test and failure modes classi-
fication at SUPSI PVLab (in progress)
We have recently received at SUPSI PVLab a selection of modules with different types of defects. The tests for their electrical characterization and for a detailed classification of defects are in progress. The first results give a good match between on- site measurements and indoor testing.
