A Comprehensive System for Protection of Photovoltaic Installations in Normal and Emergency Conditions

Konrad Seklecki, Marek Olesz, Marek Adamowicz, Mikołaj Nowak, Leszek Sławomir Litzbarski (), Kamil Balcarek and Jacek Grochowski
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Konrad Seklecki: Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Marek Olesz: Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Marek Adamowicz: Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Mikołaj Nowak: Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Leszek Sławomir Litzbarski: Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Kamil Balcarek: Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Jacek Grochowski: Faculty of Control, Robotics and Electrical Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 5, 60-965 Poznań, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: The rapid growth of the photovoltaic industry necessitates the development of innovative solutions to ensure the safe operation of these systems. One of the most critical challenges in photovoltaic installations is ensuring protection against electric shock under both operational and emergency conditions, as well as minimizing the risk of fire spread in case of an installation fire. Existing safety measures do not provide a sufficient level of protection, particularly in terms of fire safety. To address these shortcomings, a comprehensive safety system has been developed. This system includes a photovoltaic panel shutter and a safety switch device, which enables the short-circuiting of individual panel outputs while also providing a break in the DC circuit. The proposed solution can be classified as part of the Balance of System (BoS). The effectiveness of this safety system has been validated through both numerical simulations and experimental investigations. Furthermore, an economic analysis indicates that implementing this system will not significantly impact the overall cost of a photovoltaic system.

Keywords: PV systems; PV installations; balance of system; fire safety; protection against electric shocks (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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