Graphical Diagnosis of Performances in Photovoltaic Systems: A Case Study in Southern Spain

Isabel Santiago, David Trillo Montero, Juan J. Luna Rodríguez, Isabel M. Moreno Garcia and Emilio J. Palacios Garcia
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Isabel Santiago: Departamento de Arquitectura de Computadores, Electrónica y Tecnología Electrónica, EscuelaPolitécnica Superior, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Leonardo da Vinci, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain
David Trillo Montero: Departamento de Arquitectura de Computadores, Electrónica y Tecnología Electrónica, EscuelaPolitécnica Superior, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Leonardo da Vinci, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain
Juan J. Luna Rodríguez: Departamento de Arquitectura de Computadores, Electrónica y Tecnología Electrónica, EscuelaPolitécnica Superior, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Leonardo da Vinci, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain
Isabel M. Moreno Garcia: Departamento de Arquitectura de Computadores, Electrónica y Tecnología Electrónica, EscuelaPolitécnica Superior, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Leonardo da Vinci, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain
Emilio J. Palacios Garcia: Departamento de Arquitectura de Computadores, Electrónica y Tecnología Electrónica, EscuelaPolitécnica Superior, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Leonardo da Vinci, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-26

Abstract: The starting point of the operation and maintenance tasks in photovoltaic plants is the continuous monitoring and supervision of its components. The great amount of registered data requires a major improvement in the ways this information is processed and analyzed to rapidly detect any potential fault, without incurring additional costs. In this paper, a procedure to perform a detailed graphical supported analysis of the operation of photovoltaic installations, based on inverter data, and using a self-developed application, is presented. The program carries out the automated processing of the registered data, providing their access and visualization by means of color maps. These graphs allow a large volume of data set to be simultaneously represented in a readable way, enabling operation and maintenance operators to quickly detect patterns that would require any type of intervention. As a case study, the operation of a grid-connected photovoltaic plant located in southern Spain was studied during a period of three years. The average daily efficiency values of the PV modules and inverters were in the range of 7.6–14.6%, and 73.5–94% respectively. Moreover, the presence of shadings, as well as the hours and days mainly affected by this issue, was easily detected.

Keywords: photovoltaic plants; software development; performance analysis; loss analysis; graphical malfunction detection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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