String Fault Detection in Solar Photo Voltaic Arrays

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays connected with the microgrid system consist of multiple strings interconnected in different ways. This paper deals the diagnosis of faults that occurred in one or multiple of such strings. Output currents from inverter output terminals of the microgrid system have been captured for assessment. Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT)-based DC components and total harmonics distortions (THD) have been calculated. Discreet wavelet transformation (DWT)-based approximate and detail coefficients of inverter output currents have been analysed by statistical parameters such as skewness and kurtosis. These analyses have been carried out at normal conditions and different string fault conditions. Specific relations have been observed among percentage of string faults with DC components, THD, kurtosis and skewness at certain DWT levels. Parametric selection has been done and algorithm has been proposed for string fault assessment. Case studies have been performed with the data collected from real system and the algorithm has been validated.

KEYWORDS:

• DC component
• Discrete wavelet transform (DWT)
• Fast Fourier transforms (FFT)
• Kurtosis
• Microgrid
• Photo voltaic (PV) array
• Skewness
• Sub harmonics
• Total harmonics distortion (THD)

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tapash Kr. Das

Tapash Kumar Das was born in West Bengal, India on January 6, 1980. He obtained BTech and MTech, in electrical engineering from the West Bengal University of Technology in 2006 and 2008, respectively. He has authored/co-authored around 12 papers published in international and national seminars, conferences and journals. He obtained MIET from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK in 2018. He completed Rooftop Solar Grid Engineer training programme from National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram, Haryana, India in 2018. Presently, he is assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering in Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology. His field of interest includes power system, renewable energy resources, micro-grids, waste to energy, etc.

Surajit Chattopadhyay

Surajit Chattopadhyay was born in Hooghly, West Bengal, India. He obtained BSc degree in physics Honours from Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandir (CU), in 1998, and then BTech, MTech in Electrical Engineering and PhD (Technology) from the Department of Applied Physics of University of Calcutta in 2001, 2003 and 2010, respectively. He obtained CEng from Engineering Council, UK in 2013 and got FIE from the Institution of Engineers, India in 2018. He has authored/co-authored four books and around 130 papers published in international and national journals and conferences and three books. Presently, he is with the Department of Electrical Engineering in Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology. His field of interest includes electric power quality, smart grid, fault diagnosis, power system protection, signal analysis, robotic application and UAV. Email: [email protected]

Arabinda Das

Arabinda Das was born in 1966. Presently, he is professor in the Electrical Engineering Department, Jadavpur University, India. Before joining Jadavpur University in 1999, he worked as lecturer in Regional Engineering College (presently NIT, Durgapur), Durgapur, India from 1996. He obtained his BTech, MTech and PhD (Tech) degrees in 1990, 1992 and 2000, respectively in electrical machines and power systems from the University of Calcutta. His field of interest is the application of microprocessor/microcontroller in electrical engineering and modelling and simulation of electrical systems. Dr Das has guided a number of Masters and PhD students. Email: [email protected]