Mark, This question depends on what where you draw your system boundary. If you are analyzing a module in its entirety, the module that is converting irradiance energy into electrical current will be cooler overall (less thermal energy) because less of that irradiance energy is turning into thermal energy. However, if you look at individual cells, the module that is conducting current can transfer some of that electrical energy into thermal energy in bad cells, which will make localized heating. Effectively, the modules producing useful work outside of your boundary won't be be converting all of that radiation energy into thermal energy inside of your boundary.
Hence, open circuit module warmer than conducting module. This assumes that the only energy entering the system is from radiation, and that energy can leave the system as electrical energy. I like the question On Wed, Sep 10, 2014 at 10:10 PM, William Miller <will...@millersolar.com> wrote: > Colleagues: > > > > Thanks for the scintillating and relevant discussion. This brings up a > question on my radar: Will unloaded modules fail sooner than loaded > modules? > > > > Thanks again. Great Group! > > > > William > > > > > > [image: Gradient Cap_mini] > Lic 773985 > millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> > 805-438-5600 > > > > *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On > Behalf Of *Bill Hoffer > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 10, 2014 9:04 PM > *To:* RE-wrenches > *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Cooler Modules > > > > Mark > > > > Loaded modules will have hotter cells. I know this from searching for bad > cells with a thermal camera. At open circuit I could not see a difference, > but short circuit or loaded I could see 20 - 30 C increase in mismatched > cells . > > > > Bill > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*
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