IEC TS 60904-13:2018 PDF

Overview

IEC TS 60904-13:2018 - Photovoltaic devices, Part 13: Electroluminescence of photovoltaic modules specifies standardized methods for capturing, processing and interpreting electroluminescence (EL) images of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The technical specification covers equipment, imaging procedures, image-correction and quantitative metrics, and offers guidance for qualitative interpretation of EL features. It applies to PV modules measured with a power supply that places the cells in forward bias.

Keywords: IEC TS 60904-13:2018, electroluminescence, EL imaging, PV modules, photovoltaic testing standards.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Imaging apparatus: requirements for EL cameras/detectors, dark-room or controlled imaging environment, power-supply setup, computer interfaces and imaging software.
• Imaging procedure: camera positioning, exposure and focus settings, frame subtraction, sharpness determination and classification.
• Image correction: normative procedures for removing dark current and stray light, and correcting lens effects such as vignetting.
• Signal quality: methods to assess image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and minimum quality criteria for reliable interpretation.
• Image analysis & metrics:
  • Histogram-based analyses (variance, skewness, kurtosis).
  • Pixel- or area-weighted EL relative to an ideal module.
  • Quantification frameworks for features such as cell cracks and inactive areas.
• Physical interpretation: linking EL observables to PV electrical properties (series resistance, shunt resistance, minority-carrier lifetime/diffusion length) and common failure modes.
• Annexed methods: focus assessment (Tenengrad, Sobel), quantitative crack analysis, and qualitative interpretation tables for crystalline silicon and thin-film modules.
• Reporting: standardized content and labeling (cell coordinates, orientation) for reproducible EL test reports.

Practical Applications

• Quality control and factory acceptance testing for PV module manufacturers.
• Field and laboratory diagnostics during commissioning, maintenance and warranty inspections.
• R&D and failure analysis to correlate EL features with module performance degradation.
• Asset owners and O&M providers using EL imaging for nondestructive testing, crack mapping, hotspot detection and degradation trend analysis.

Keywords: PV inspection, nondestructive testing, module diagnostics, EL image processing, solar module inspection.

Who Should Use This Standard

• PV module manufacturers and quality engineers
• Independent test laboratories and certification bodies
• O&M providers and field service technicians
• Researchers and developers in photovoltaic materials and reliability
• Warranty assessors and asset managers

Related Standards

• Other parts of the IEC 60904 series (Photovoltaic devices) cover complementary PV test methods and may be referenced for broader photovoltaic testing and performance evaluation.