Fault detection scheme for a large-scale photovoltaic installation based on frequency response analysis

Abstract

Fault detection is crucial to ensure the operational reliability of large-scale photovoltaic installations (LSPVI). However, faults detection and identification is still a key challenge in LSPVI. In a large-scale photovoltaic installation, there is a large number of photovoltaic arrays. As a result of these arrays and their complex configuration, various types of faults are produced frequently which directly affect the reliability and safety of the PV installation. One of the goals of any PV installations is to retain power generation at the desired operational efficiency. To maintain the efficiency of the PV system, it is therefore important to detect defective modules promptly. In this study, a fault diagnostic technique that involves excitation of both normal and faulty modules with signals that have various frequencies is investigated. The results obtained show that the proposed techniques can diagnose and identify faulty solar panels in large-scale photovoltaic installations.