Solar module test control
AssigneeFirst Solar, Inc.
InventorsPat Buehler, Sumanth Varma Lokanath, Madhu Sayala, Christinia Snider, Jim Sorensen, Paul Wolffersdorff
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Abstract
A method for conditioning a photovoltaic module for testing includes setting an effective irradiance of a continuous light source at a target plane, configuring a test photovoltaic module to operate at a substantially maximum power point configuration, positioning the test photovoltaic module adjacent to the target plane, and configuring the test photovoltaic module for testing by removing the light source, cooling the test module to a testing temperature, and reversing the substantially maximum power point configuration.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- conditioning a photovoltaic module for testing by the acts of:
- setting an effective irradiance of a continuous light source at a target plane;
- configuring a photovoltaic module to operate at a substantially maximum power point configuration;
- positioning the photovoltaic module at a known location relative to the target plane such that the target plane of the continuous light source intersects with at least a portion of a surface of the photovoltaic module;
- heating the photovoltaic module;
- and
- configuring the photovoltaic module for testing by removing the light source, cooling the photovoltaic module to a testing temperature, and reversing the substantially maximum power point configuration.
A system comprising:
- a system for conditioning a photovoltaic module for testing comprising:
- a continuous light source for irradiating a target plane intersecting at least a portion of a surface of a photovoltaic module, wherein the continuous light source is positioned proximate to the photovoltaic module;
- a maximum power point module operable to permit the photovoltaic module to operate substantially near maximum power point;
- and
- a measuring system comprising:
- a thermal sensor for monitoring a temperature of the photovoltaic module, wherein the thermal sensor is positioned in thermal contact with the photovoltaic module;
- and
- a memory component in connection with the thermal sensor via a data interface,
- wherein the continuous light source removes the continuous light source from radiating the photovoltaic module and the maximum power point module removes operation of the photovoltaic module at substantially near maximum power point prior to a testing of the photovoltaic module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.