Solar Lattice

Measurement

Patchwork EL pattern

ID
meas:el-patchwork-pattern
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/meas/el-patchwork-pattern
Status
active
Also known as
non-uniformity of electroluminescence images

A patchwork EL pattern is an electroluminescence image of a module that looks more and more uneven, with cells or areas of different brightness and no clear crack-type signature. In some cases it shows that light induced degradation (LID or LeTID) is going on in crystalline silicon modules. That degradation shows up mainly as a drop in STC output power, and also as lower short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage early in the system's life, with no visible defect. IV measurement is the main way to detect it, and EL and IR imaging give supporting evidence. EL images are taken with the module in forward bias from a DC power supply that can drive the module's short-circuit current, in a dark setting or at sunset or night in the field. One EL image at a single bias current and temperature often cannot pin down the physical cause, so images at two bias currents or other methods such as thermography or photoluminescence help. Modules with higher power losses generally have an EL intensity distribution shifted toward lower intensities, but no clear link to specific defect types has been found yet.

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Claims

typical_power_loss

c1 drafted · lead 1–3 PERCENT

Conditions: Light induced degradation (LID) in crystalline silicon modules, within the first days of sun exposure

Loss belongs to LID, the failure mode that can show up as a patchwork EL pattern.

review note: support check: partial - LID is stated as limited to 1-3% within the first days of sun exposure, but the passages only say patchwork EL can in some cases highlight ongoing degradation, not that this loss is typical for a patchwork pattern.

c2 drafted · lead ≤ 10 PERCENT

Conditions: LeTID in crystalline silicon modules at elevated temperatures above 50 °C, over years; adds to the LID loss

Loss belongs to LeTID, a light induced degradation effect that can show up as a patchwork EL pattern.

review note: support check: partial - LeTID up to 10%, above 50 °C, over years, summing with LID is stated, but linking it as typical loss of a patchwork EL pattern is only loosely implied (patchwork may highlight degradation generally).

Referenced by

Data