IR real-time analyses for PV system monitoring by digital image processing techniques

PV modules as main component of PV system might be subjected to various internal or external stresses hence monitoring and maintenance are a crucial issue to assure PV module lifetime and appropriate energy performance. Current experimental research proposes an applicable approach of digital image processing technique in PV module inspection by thermography assessment. For this purpose, an algorithm was designed to perform IR images analysis. The monitoring was performed in order to detect defects and failures due to particular events on the PV systems by thermography analysis. The investigation was carried out by mounted IR thermo-camera (Flir A35) on a light Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in Solar Tech Laboratory. The captured IR-images have been processed by proposed algorithm to determine specific defect and degradation percentage. The results have proven that digital image processing technique is very useful and reliable for IR-image analysis to identify possible defects during the PV module inspection procedure.