Impact of Component Reliability on Large Scale Photovoltaic Systems’ Performance
In this work, the impact of component reliability on large scale photovoltaic (PV) systems’ performance is demonstrated. The analysis is largely based on an extensive field-derived dataset of failure rates of operation ranging from three to five years, derived from different large-scale PV...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/6/1579 |
| _version_ | 1798034287081029632 |
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| author | Stefan Baschel Elena Koubli Jyotirmoy Roy Ralph Gottschalg |
| author_facet | Stefan Baschel Elena Koubli Jyotirmoy Roy Ralph Gottschalg |
| author_sort | Stefan Baschel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, the impact of component reliability on large scale photovoltaic (PV) systems’ performance is demonstrated. The analysis is largely based on an extensive field-derived dataset of failure rates of operation ranging from three to five years, derived from different large-scale PV systems. Major system components, such as transformers, are also included, which are shown to have a significant impact on the overall energy lost due to failures. A Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is used to estimate the impact on reliability and availability for two inverter configurations. A Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is employed to rank failures in different subsystems with regards to occurrence and severity. Estimation of energy losses (EL) is realised based on actual failure probabilities. It is found that the key contributions to reduced energy yield are the extended repair periods of the transformer and the inverter. The very small number of transformer issues (less than 1%) causes disproportionate EL due to the long lead times for a replacement device. Transformer and inverter issues account for about 2/3 of total EL in large scale PV systems (LSPVSs). An optimised monitoring strategy is proposed in order to reduce repair times for the transformer and its contribution to EL. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:42:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff141c9a355d48b089862e83d0ac8151 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:42:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff141c9a355d48b089862e83d0ac81512022-12-22T04:04:11ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-06-01116157910.3390/en11061579en11061579Impact of Component Reliability on Large Scale Photovoltaic Systems’ PerformanceStefan Baschel0Elena Koubli1Jyotirmoy Roy2Ralph Gottschalg3Vattenfall Innovation GmbH, Chausseestrasse 23, 10115 Berlin, GermanyCentre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UKjuwi Renewable Energies Limited, Energie-Allee 1, 55286 Wörrstadt, GermanyFraunhofer-Centre for Silicon-Photovoltaic CSP, Walter-Hülse-Strasse 1, 06120 Halle, GermanyIn this work, the impact of component reliability on large scale photovoltaic (PV) systems’ performance is demonstrated. The analysis is largely based on an extensive field-derived dataset of failure rates of operation ranging from three to five years, derived from different large-scale PV systems. Major system components, such as transformers, are also included, which are shown to have a significant impact on the overall energy lost due to failures. A Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is used to estimate the impact on reliability and availability for two inverter configurations. A Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is employed to rank failures in different subsystems with regards to occurrence and severity. Estimation of energy losses (EL) is realised based on actual failure probabilities. It is found that the key contributions to reduced energy yield are the extended repair periods of the transformer and the inverter. The very small number of transformer issues (less than 1%) causes disproportionate EL due to the long lead times for a replacement device. Transformer and inverter issues account for about 2/3 of total EL in large scale PV systems (LSPVSs). An optimised monitoring strategy is proposed in order to reduce repair times for the transformer and its contribution to EL.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/6/1579photovoltaic systemsreliabilityreal dataenergy yieldfault tree analysisfailure mode and effect analysisavailabilityfailure rates |
| spellingShingle | Stefan Baschel Elena Koubli Jyotirmoy Roy Ralph Gottschalg Impact of Component Reliability on Large Scale Photovoltaic Systems’ Performance Energies photovoltaic systems reliability real data energy yield fault tree analysis failure mode and effect analysis availability failure rates |
| title | Impact of Component Reliability on Large Scale Photovoltaic Systems’ Performance |
| title_full | Impact of Component Reliability on Large Scale Photovoltaic Systems’ Performance |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Component Reliability on Large Scale Photovoltaic Systems’ Performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Component Reliability on Large Scale Photovoltaic Systems’ Performance |
| title_short | Impact of Component Reliability on Large Scale Photovoltaic Systems’ Performance |
| title_sort | impact of component reliability on large scale photovoltaic systems performance |
| topic | photovoltaic systems reliability real data energy yield fault tree analysis failure mode and effect analysis availability failure rates |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/6/1579 |
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