Novel method and system for monitoring CPV cell and module temperature

This paper presents a novel system for accurate monitoring of photovoltaic cell temperature, allowing the introduction of thermal management strategies critical to maintaining high efficiencies and cell lifetimes. The sensor device outlined consists of a junction diode formed on the surface of a cell; a metallic contact is deposited onto the cell during manufacture forming a Schottky barrier diode. The additional metal-semiconductor junction is formed by the evaporation of a metal contact with suitable work function. A wire is then bonded to the contact for connection to an external monitoring/control circuit. Furthermore, the reverse leakage current of the Schottky diode is temperature dependent, and can be used as part of a feedback system to monitor and control the device temperature, either by controlling the movement of the module tracking so that the device is no longer in direct light or by switching in an active cooling device such as a fan if required