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Electric arc detection in photovoltaic installations

  • US 10,432,139 B2
  • Filed: 08/27/2014
  • Issued: 10/01/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for estimating a series or parallel nature and a location of an arc in a photovoltaic device, including N (N=1 or N>

  • 1) strings of photovoltaic modules, connected to a charge device having a capacitive behavior for the modules, the method comprising;

    a) measuring, at terminals of each of the modules of each string, evolution of voltage over time, at least during formation of an electric arc;

    b) identifying modules at the terminals of which a voltage variation occurs between a first duration during which the voltage has a substantially stable slope and a second duration during which the voltage has a substantially stable slope for a duration of at least 5 μ

    s, which immediately follows the voltage variation, and identifying the positive or negative direction of each voltage variation;

    c) estimating the location of the arc in the photovoltaic device and whether the arc has a series or parallel nature, based on the information on the modules at the terminals of which the voltage variation occurs, and the positive or negative direction of each voltage variation; and

    d) disconnecting the photovoltaic modules from other circuits connected to the photovoltaic device based on the location of the arc and the series or parallel nature of the arc,wherein, when the voltage at the terminals of a module of one of the strings of the device decreases, when the voltage at the terminals of all other modules of the same string increases, it is concluded that a parallel arc is occurring across the terminals of the module or that a series arc is occurring within the module, andwherein, when the voltage at the terminals of the module;

    decreases to the arc voltage value, it is concluded that a parallel arc is occurring across the terminals of the module, anddecreases by an absolute value substantially equal to Varc/((1/nmod)−

    1), wherein Varc is the final voltage of the arc, and nmod is the number of modules in the string concerned, it is concluded that a series arc is occurring within the module.

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