Analysis of Photovoltaic String Failure and Health Monitoring with Module Fault Identification

Ahmad Rivai, Nasrudin Abd Rahim, Mohamad Fathi Mohamad Elias and Jafferi Jamaludin
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Ahmad Rivai: Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC) Level 4, Wisma R&D, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 59990, Malaysia
Nasrudin Abd Rahim: Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC) Level 4, Wisma R&D, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 59990, Malaysia
Mohamad Fathi Mohamad Elias: Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC) Level 4, Wisma R&D, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 59990, Malaysia
Jafferi Jamaludin: Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC) Level 4, Wisma R&D, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 59990, Malaysia

Energies, 2019, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: In this paper, photovoltaic (PV) string failure analysis and health monitoring of PV modules based on a low-cost self-powered wireless sensor network (WSN) are presented. Simple and effective fault detection and diagnosis method based on the real-time operating voltage of PV modules is proposed. The proposed method is verified using the developed health monitoring system which is installed in a grid-connected PV system. Each of the PV modules is monitored via WSN to detect any individual faulty module. The analysis of PV string failure includes several electrical fault scenarios and their impact on the PV string characteristics. The results show that a degraded or faulty module exhibits low operating voltage as compared to the normal module. The developed health monitoring system also includes a graphical user interface (GUI) program which graphically displays the real-time operating voltage of each module with colors and thus helping users to identify the faulty modules easily. The faulty modules identification approach is further validated using the PV module electroluminescence (EL) imaging system.

Keywords: photovoltaic module fault detection; graphical user interface; photovoltaic string; health monitoring; Internet of Things; self-powered wireless sensor network (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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