Critical Analysis of the Protection Offered by Bypass Diodes in Current Modules

Bypass diodes are integral components of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Their function is to protect these modules from the adverse effects of partial shading by providing an alternative path for the current. This allows shaded or defective cells to be bypassed, thus maintaining the performance and longevity of the module. In the photovoltaic industry, it is common practice to incorporate three bypass diodes per module, regardless of the number and type of solar cells that comprise it. As a result, the module is divided into three substrings, which prevents a single shaded cell from causing the loss of energy from the entire module. Numerous studies have explored various configurations and quantities of bypass diodes within photovoltaic modules, seeking to optimise energy production under different shading conditions. However, there is a notable lack of research dedicated to evaluating the protective function of bypass diodes in relation to the physical integrity of solar cells in shaded situations. This article aims to address this gap with the objective of verifying whether this three-diode configuration offers sufficient protection to new cell models.