# Spatial–Temporal Hotspot Management of Photovoltaic Modules Based on Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Arrays

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a system using sensors and cooling gels to detect and manage hot spots in solar panels, improving their efficiency and lifespan.

## Contribution

A novel spatial–temporal hot spot management system using FBG sensors and cooling hydrogels is proposed for photovoltaic modules.

## Key findings

- FBG sensor arrays detected hot spots with 99.1% accuracy using an optimized ANN classifier.
- Cooling hydrogels reduced PV module temperatures by 7.7°C, enhancing power generation efficiency by 5.6%.
- The system demonstrated effectiveness through simulations, lab experiments, and field tests.

## Abstract

Against the backdrop of an urgent energy crisis, solar energy has attracted sufficient attention as one of the most inexhaustible and friendly types of environmental energy. Faced with long service and harsh environment, the poor performance ratios of photovoltaic arrays and safety hazards are frequently boosted worldwide. In particular, the hot spot effect plays a vital role in weakening the power generation performance and reduces the lifetime of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Here, our research reports a spatial–temporal hot spot management system integrated with fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensor arrays and cooling hydrogels. Through finite element simulations and indoor experiments in laboratory conditions, a superior cooling effect of hydrogels and photoelectric conversion efficiency improvement have been demonstrated. On this basis, field tests were carried out in which the FBG arrays detected the surface temperature of the PV module first, and then a classifier based on an optimized artificial neural network (ANN) recognized hot spots with an accuracy of 99.1%. The implementation of cooling hydrogels as a feedback mechanism achieved a 7.7 °C reduction in temperature, resulting in a 5.6% enhancement in power generation efficiency. The proposed strategy offers valuable insights for conducting predictive maintenance of PV power plants in the case of hot spots.