An optimized fading fault localization method applied in series-parallel photovoltaic array

Shading is one of the main reasons for the heat spot effect of a photovoltaic array, which causes electrical mismatch and seriously affects its output characteristics. Based on the widely adopted photovoltaic array with series-parallel architecture, we present an optimized online localization method about the photovoltaic shading faults. By optimizing voltage sensor configurations, the method not only simplifies the topology of the fault detection system, but can also ascertain the fault locations with varying shadow degrees of the photovoltaic array quickly and accurately. It can also forecast the illumination intensity on the photovoltaic cells online. We demonstrate that for a 4×4 series-parallel photovoltaic array, 8 voltage sensors can achieve fault localization with an accuracy up to a single cell of any column or row. Simulation with MATLAB proves that this method improved the efficiency and accuracy of fault detection in the series-parallel photovoltaic array.