Model-based fault detection algorithm for photovoltaic system monitoring

Abstract

Reliable detection of faults in PV systems plays an important role in improving their reliability, productivity, and safety. This paper addresses the detection of faults in the direct current (DC) side of photovoltaic (PV) systems using a statistical approach. Specifically, a simulation model that mimics the theoretical performances of the inspected PV system is designed. Residuals, which are the difference between the measured and estimated output data, are used as a fault indicator. Indeed, residuals are used as the input for the Multivariate CUmulative SUM (MCUSUM) algorithm to detect potential faults. We evaluated the proposed method by using data from an actual 20 MWp grid-connected PV system located in the province of Adrar, Algeria.