Advantages and Mechanism of Drone-based Photovoltaic EL Inspection

Drone Photovoltaic Inspection combines unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and EL detection technologies. EL detection utilizes the electroluminescence phenomenon of solar cells under forward bias voltage. In normal cell areas, the luminescence is uniform, while in defective areas, the luminescence is abnormal. By this means, it can be determined whether there are hidden cracks, fragments, or poor soldering and other issues inside the cells.

Its system mainly consists of three parts. The UAV fuselage and power system provide a flexible mobile platform for detection, ensuring stable flight in complex environments. The positioning and flight control system guarantees that it can accurately operate along the preset route above the solar panels without missing any detection points. In the EL detection equipment, the imaging camera is used to capture the luminescence images of the panels, the light source system provides the excitation conditions, and the signal acquisition and processing unit preliminarily processes the image data and transmits it to the ground. The ground control station enables operators to remotely control the flight path and detection parameters of the UAV, receive and analyze data, and obtain a real-time understanding of the status of the panels.

This combination has significant advantages. Firstly, it is highly efficient. Compared with the slow and inefficient traditional manual inspection of large photovoltaic power plants, it can quickly move around and conduct large-area inspections, greatly shortening the detection time. Secondly, it is safe. Solar panels are often installed in high or remote areas such as rooftops and wilderness. Manual inspection poses risks such as falling and tripping, while UAVs can easily avoid these dangers, ensuring the safety of personnel. Thirdly, it is precise. The equipped high-resolution imaging equipment and professional signal processing technology can detect minute defects on the panels, providing data for subsequent precise maintenance.