PD IEC TS 60904-13:2018

What is PD IEC TS 60904-13- Electroluminescence of photovoltaic (PV) modules about? 

IEC 60904 is an international standard that discusses photovoltaic (PV) devices.  

PD IEC TS 60904-13 is the 13th part of the series that specifies methods to: 

• Capture electroluminescence images of photovoltaic modules  
• Process images to obtain quantitative terms about the images taken  
• Provide guidance for qualitatively interpreting the images for features in the image that are observed. 

PD IEC TS 60904-13 is applicable to PV modules measured with a power supply that places the cells in the modules in forward bias. 

Who is PD IEC TS 60904-13- Electroluminescence of PV modules for? 

PD IEC TS 60904-13 on photovoltaic devices is applicable to: 

• PV module manufacturers  
• PV power system manufacturers 
• Solar energy engineering industry 
• Product designers 
• Quality assurance and testing personnel 

Why should you use PD IEC TS 60904-13- Electroluminescence of PV modules? 

Electroluminescence is the emission of optical radiation resulting from the application of electrical energy. The principle of electroluminescence is the same as that of a light emitting diode (LED). Light is emitted as a result of radiative recombination of carriers in a solar cell (basically a big diode). 

Complying with PD IEC TS 60904-13 requirements can help you achieve high-quality electroluminescence imaging of photovoltaic devices to identify defects and cracks in photovoltaic devices and assemblies. You can thus evaluate the quality of the electrical contacts of solar cells. 

In process of capturing electroluminescence images of photovoltaic modules, PD IEC TS 60904-13 also aids in qualitative analysis of images taken for observation of surfaces of photovoltaic devices.