Graphical Diagnosis of Performances in Photovoltaic Systems: A Case Study in Southern Spain
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Author
Santiago, Isabel
Trillo Montero, David
Luna Rodríguez, J.J.
Moreno-García, Isabel
Palacios García, Emilio
Publisher
MDPIDate
2017Subject
Photovoltaic plantsSoftware development
Performance analysis
Loss analysis
Graphical malfunction detection
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Show full item recordAbstract
The starting point of the operation and maintenance tasks in photovoltaic plants is the
continuous monitoring and supervision of its components. The great amount of registered data
requires a major improvement in the ways this information is processed and analyzed to rapidly
detect any potential fault, without incurring additional costs. In this paper, a procedure to perform
a detailed graphical supported analysis of the operation of photovoltaic installations, based on
inverter data, and using a self-developed application, is presented. The program carries out the
automated processing of the registered data, providing their access and visualization by means of
color maps. These graphs allow a large volume of data set to be simultaneously represented in a
readable way, enabling operation and maintenance operators to quickly detect patterns that would
require any type of intervention. As a case study, the operation of a grid-connected photovoltaic plant
located in southern Spain was studied during a period of three years. The average daily efficiency
values of the PV modules and inverters were in the range of 7.6–14.6%, and 73.5–94% respectively.
Moreover, the presence of shadings, as well as the hours and days mainly affected by this issue,
was easily detected.