Title:	A New Method to Analyse the Soiling in Multi-Junction III-V Based CPV Modules
Author(s):	G. Timò, N. Castagnetti, A. Minuto, E. Celi, S. Rizzi
Keywords:	Monitoring, Multijunction Solar Cell, III-V Semiconductors, Concentrators, Characterization
Topic:	PV Systems Engineering, Integrated/Applied PV
Subtopic:	PV for Space Applications
Event:	8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
Session:	4DO.16.2
Pages:	1137 - 1141
ISBN:	3-936338-86-8
Paper DOI:	10.4229/WCPEC-82022-4DO.16.2
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	paper

Abstract/Summary:

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The side-by-side (SBS) method allows evaluating the concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) performance degradation due to soiling by monitoring the power or current ratio between a module under test and a reference module that must always be kept clean. For monitoring the performance of the soiling in CPV power plants, the SBS method introduces cost issues as a continuous cleaning of the reference module must be guaranteed by manual or automatic means. With this contribution, a new data filtering method is proposed that allows evaluating the photovoltaic performance degradation due to soiling in multi-junction based CPV modules without the need of using a reference module. The new method is based on the measurement of the electrical parameters of the CPV module along with the direct irradiance data in the spectral bands of the top and middle sub-cells and on the subsequent application of a proper filtering procedure. For a validation of the new methodology, a ten-month testing campaign has been carried out and the results obtained by the data filtering method have been compared with those obtained by the SBS one.