Developing Inspection Methodology of Solar Energy Plants by Thermal Infrared Sensor on Board Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Dong Ho Lee and Jong Hwa Park
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Dong Ho Lee: Department of Rural and Agricultural Engineering, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju 28644, Chungbuk, Korea
Jong Hwa Park: Department of Rural and Agricultural Engineering, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju 28644, Chungbuk, Korea

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) power generation facilities have been built on various scales due to rapid growth in response to demand for renewable energy. Facilities built on diverse terrain and on such a scale are required to employ fast and accurate monitoring technology for stable electrical production and maintenance. The purpose of this study was to develop a technology to analyze the normal operation and failure of solar modules by acquiring images by attaching optical and thermal infrared sensors to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and producing orthographic images of temperature information. The results obtained in this study are as follows: (1) a method of using optical and thermal infrared sensors with different resolutions at the same time is able to produce accurate spatial information, (2) it is possible to produce orthographic images of thermal infrared images, (3) the analysis of the temperature fluctuation characteristics of the solar panel and cell showed that the abnormal module and cell displayed a larger temperature change than the normal module and cell, and (4) the abnormal heat generation of the panel and cell can be accurately discerned by the abnormal state panel and cell through the spatial distribution of the temperature. It is concluded that the inspection method of the solar module using the obtained UAV-based thermal infrared sensor can be useful for safety inspection and monitoring of the rapidly growing solar power generation facility.

Keywords: unmanned aerial vehicle; thermal infrared sensor; photovoltaic; optical sensor; temperature fluctuation; orthographic image (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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