Aerial EL Imaging of PV Arrays With Dynamic Flight Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, such as electroluminescence (EL) imaging, are time-consuming and labor-intensive, often requiring panel dismounting or suffer from image distortions when using tripods, making large-scale inspections inefficient and prone to handling defects.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using an aerial vehicle with a camera to capture EL images, employing image processing techniques like frame extraction, alignment, and averaging to enhance resolution and reduce noise, along with dynamic flight speed adjustments based on image quality parameters, enabling high-quality image capture of PV arrays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PV modules are dismounted for EL measurement in a controlled darkroom environment, then measurement reliability is improved, but inspection time and labor requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically dismounting PV modules with an optical/electrical approach. An aerial vehicle equipped with EL imaging equipment captures images of installed modules, eliminating the need for mechanical handling while maintaining measurement capability through remote sensing technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an aerial vehicle as an intermediary between the inspector and the PV modules. This intermediary captures EL images from a distance, allowing measurements to be taken without direct contact or dismounting of the modules, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable measurement and inspection efficiency.
2Productivity
If PV modules remain installed on support frames for EL inspection, then inspection efficiency is improved, but image quality and measurement precision deteriorate due to perspective and intensity distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable aerial vehicle that can dynamically adjust its position, altitude, and orientation to optimize imaging conditions. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain high measurement precision while inspecting installed modules, overcoming the static limitations of tripod-mounted cameras.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key imaging parameters by moving the camera platform to optimal positions in three-dimensional space. By adjusting altitude, horizontal distance, and angular orientation, the system captures images with minimized perspective and intensity distortions, maintaining measurement precision without requiring module dismounting.
3Ease of operation
If images are captured from a tripod-mounted camera during the day with lock-in current control, then labor requirements are reduced, but inspection time increases and image distortions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes periodic EL imaging cycles where the aerial vehicle systematically moves between multiple PV modules, capturing images in a structured sequence. This periodic inspection approach enables efficient coverage of large arrays while maintaining operational simplicity and minimizing total inspection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerial vehicle serves multiple functions: it acts as a mobile platform, positioning system, and imaging device simultaneously. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate equipment and operators, lowering labor intensity while accelerating the inspection process compared to static tripod setups.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, high-resolution, and noise-reduced EL image processing of PV arrays, allowing for rapid identification of defective modules without dismounting, and improving image clarity through dynamic flight control and image enhancement algorithms.
Implementation Method 1
For EL measurements, PV modules of the solar panels are connected to a power supply and put under forward bias. The emitted near-infrared light is captured with a camera that is sensitive in the near-infrared waveband.
Data Source
AI summary
A method 400 of capturing and processing electroluminescence (EL) images 1910 of a PV array 40 is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the method 400 includes controlling the aerial vehicle 20 to fly along a flight path to capture EL images 1910 of corresponding PV array subsections 512b of the PV array 40, deriving respective image quality parameters from at least some of the captured EL images, dynamically adjusting a flight speed of the aerial vehicle along the flight path, based on the respective image quality parameters for capturing the EL images 1910 of the PV array subsections 512b, extracting a plurality of frames 1500 of the PV array subsection 512b from the EL images 1910; determining a reference frame having a highest image quality of the PV array subsection 512b from among the extracted frames 2100; performing image alignment of the extracted frames 2100 to the reference frame to generate image aligned frames 2130, and processing the image aligned frames 2130 to produce an enhanced image 2140 of the PV array subsection 512b having a higher resolution than the reference frame. A system, image processing device, and aerial vehicle for the method thereof are also disclosed.