Comprehending the Butterfly Effect in Semi-Cellular Modules

With the invention of half-cell modules, a new phenomenon known as the butterfly or mirroring effect emerged. It is crucial to understand what this effect is, what causes it, and how it can be avoided, especially when using solar asset management software and solar energy management systems. Let’s dive in!

First and foremost, let’s define what half-cell modules are;

What are Half-Cell Modules?

Half-cell modules are the ones in which the solar cells have been split in half and are considered to provide better performance and reliability. While conventional solar panels are of 60 or 72 cells, the half-cell modules contain double this number in their structures 120 or 144 cells respectively which makes such panels operate with lesser resistive losses.

Another advantage of the operation of half-cell modules is that half-cell modules are less sensitive to blockages. If some cells of a substring are covered by shadows, vegetation, dirt, or bird droppings, the second substring in parallel can produce power. This enabled half-cell modules to generate electricity even if some of the panels were in the shadow. This feature is especially useful when operation occurs in the shade of buildings, trees, and structures that are present mostly in cities.

In some versions of a regular module, when there is an obstruction or shadowing on one or more cells in a substring of the module, only two-thirds of the module is operational (the rate of production being 67 percent).

Even when there is an obstruction or shadowing on one or more cells in a substring of a half-cell module, 5/6 of the module is still generating current suggesting that the half-cell is 83% efficient.

Define a butterfly or mirroring effect

When some portions of a half-cell module are shaded by trees or any other structure, or covered by dust, bird droppings, or any other form of obstruction. If there are bad cells or cells on one half of the module while the rest of the half is good, the affected half gives a reflecting or mirroring effect of the good half. This gives an impression that the performance of the entire module is poor when in fact it’s half of the total module that is performing poorly. 

Solar Asset Management With Butterfly Effect

The butterfly effect in half-cell modules can significantly impact the overall performance of a solar array. Solar asset management focuses on optimizing each module’s performance to ensure maximum return on investment. Understanding and addressing issues like shading, hotspots, and voltage mismatches are critical aspects of effective solar asset management.

Having issues with your solar array? Futr Energy can help. Contact us to optimize your solar asset management and boost your return on investment

Reasons for the cause of this effect

There is a problem of voltage mismatch and amperage imbalance when two substrings are connected in parallel. That is, if one substring has a half-blockage or a defect, the operating voltage and amperage will decrease. From the electrical connection aspect, one should realize that parallel-connected electrical appliances should have the same voltage while series-connected appliances should have the same amperage. 

As such in one of the substrings, operating voltage reduces which also affects the voltage of the other substring placed in parallel with it and thus a balance on the amperage load is required. 

Thus, even a healthy substring can be visually divided into hot areas manifested as a patchwork scheme due to a mismatch of voltage and an imbalance in amperage.

How Solar Software Reduces the Butterfly Effect in Solar Modules?

• Monitoring and Diagnostics: Identifying and correcting voltage mismatches and amperage imbalances are crucial. Solar software plays an essential role in real-time monitoring, early diagnosis, and providing data-driven insights to prevent performance degradation.
• Thermal Inspections: Thermal inspections, facilitated by solar energy software, can help detect early deviations from normal performance. By integrating thermal imaging and other diagnostic tools, solar software makes it easier to identify and resolve issues before they impact performance.
• Preventive Measures: Solar software can also assist in implementing preventive measures. By analyzing historical data and predicting potential issues like the butterfly effect, proactive maintenance can be scheduled, preventing costly downtime.

Is it possible to avoid a butterfly or mirroring effect?

While the butterfly effect is not considered an anomaly, it can be mitigated through regular maintenance and cleaning routines. Solar asset management software can help schedule and oversee these tasks to ensure the consistent performance of solar assets. Additionally, performing thermal inspections can allow for early identification of performance deviations, further enhancing the efficiency of the solar site.

FAQS: