Analysis of Photovoltaic Cable Degradation and Fire Precursor Signals for Optimizing Integrated Power Grids

Seong-Gwang Kim, Byung-Ik Jung, Ju-Ho Park, Yeo-Gyeong Lee and Sang-Yong Park ()
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Seong-Gwang Kim: Research and Development Headquarters, Hudius, 50, Cheomdangwagi-ro 208beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61012, Republic of Korea
Byung-Ik Jung: Department of AI Convergence Electrical Engineering, Donggang University, 50, Dongmundaero, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61200, Republic of Korea
Ju-Ho Park: Department of Fire Protection and Disaster Management, Chosun University, 30, Chosundae 3-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
Yeo-Gyeong Lee: Department of Fire Protection and Disaster Management, Chosun University, 30, Chosundae 3-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
Sang-Yong Park: Department of Fire Protection and Disaster Management, Chosun University, 30, Chosundae 3-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: Insulation degradation in photovoltaic (PV) cables can cause electrical faults and fire hazards, thereby compromising system reliability and safety. Early detection of precursor signals is crucial for preventive maintenance. However, conventional diagnostic techniques are limited to static assessments and fail to capture early-stage electrical anomalies in real-time. This study investigates the time-series behavior of voltage, current, and temperature in PV cables under thermal stress conditions. Experiments were conducted using TFR-CV cables installed in a vertically stacked and tight-contact configuration. A gas torch was applied for localized heating to induce insulation degradation. A grid-connected testbed with six series-connected PV modules was constructed. Each module was instrumented with PV-M sensors, temperature sensors, and an infrared camera. Data were acquired at 1 Hz intervals. Results showed that cable surface temperature exceeded 280 °C during degradation. The output voltage exhibited transient surges of up to +13.3% and drops of −68%, while the output current decreased by over 20%, particularly in the PV-M3 module. These anomalies, such as thermal imbalance, voltage spikes/dips, and current drops, were closely associated with critical degradation points and are interpreted as precursor signals. This work confirms the feasibility of identifying fire-related precursors through real-time monitoring of PV cable electrical characteristics. The observed correlation between electrical responses and thermal expansion behaviors suggests a strong link to the stages of insulation degradation. Future work will focus on quantifying the relationship between degradation and electrical behavior under controlled environmental conditions.

Keywords: photovoltaic (PV) cable degradation; thermal accumulation; electrical anomaly detection; early fault diagnosis (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: 2025
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