[China Instrument Network Instrument R&D] The Japan Industrial Technology Development Agency announced on June 15 that it has developed a technology that can non-contact measure the potential of each battery cell (power generation element) in the solar panel, and has successfully embedded it in a portable small-scale measurement. instrument. This is the research result of the Evaluation and Standards Group of the Research Institute of Photovoltaic Power Generation.
Prototype of non-contact potential meter for solar panels (Photograph: Industrial Technology Development Organization)
The principle is to measure the external electric field induced by the potential inside the cell. The technique of non-contact measurement of potentials was previously used to measure weak static electricity in cleaning plants and the like, and measurement instruments have also been commercialized. However, it is the first time that it is used to measure the potential inside a solar cell.
According to the release, Japanese measurement equipment manufacturers have used this technology to introduce portable prototypes and have begun conducting repeated test measurements on millions of photovoltaic power plants.
At present, in the case of noise such as rain, snow, and stains, there are problems such as unstable measurement values, and it is intended to immediately improve the commercialization of these problems. Under the current manufacturing cost, the price of the measuring instrument is several hundred thousand yen, and it is estimated that it can be reduced due to mass production.
If the potential of the solar panel can be measured without contact and the output power of the string (series circuit of the panel) is reduced, the problem panel can be locked without removing the panel.
(Original title: The company developed a technology to measure the potential without touching a solar panel)