A fault diagnosis method of hot spots for photovoltaic clusters based on model parameters

Abstract

Abstract Utilizing the direct current‐side electrical data resources of the photovoltaic power generation system on the FusionSolar platform, this study investigates the impact of hot spot faults on the output characteristics of photovoltaic strings and proposes a hot spot fault diagnosis method based on time series waveform characteristics. By analyzing the mechanisms of hot spot generation and evolution, as well as the characteristic differences in I–V curves and time series compared to other types of faults, the waveform variation patterns of hot spots in current and voltage time series are obtained. A function form suitable for hot spot fault waveform characteristics in time series graphs is constructed, and fault diagnosis feature vectors are extracted. Combining field operation and maintenance experience, a fuzzy reasoning fault diagnosis system is established to determine the causes and estimate the severity of hot spot faults. Experimental results indicate that hot spot faults have unique and corresponding variations in the current/voltage time series waveforms of the string output. The constructed function form can clearly represent the waveform variation patterns, and the established fuzzy reasoning system can achieve effective and reliable diagnosis of hot spot faults.

Keywords

• fault diagnosis
• fuzzy inference
• hot spot
• photovoltaic panels
• time series