Frequencies Studies Applied to Photovoltaic Modules

Abstract: This master thesis proposes to study applications of frequencies studies to the case of photovoltaic modules and photovoltaic plants. Such studies are little used in the photovoltaic field, so this project was aimed to determining if such studies could provide satisfactory results or not. The theoretical and experimental works presented here were performed within group E16, department ENERBAT (Energy in buildings and areas) at EDF Research & Development between July and December 2010. The first part of this report presents the application of time domain reflectometry to photovoltaic modules strings. This method is commonly used to diagnose problems in transmission lines, but never in the case of photovoltaic modules strings, therefore it was necessary to identify specific models of photovoltaic modules to the application of this method. This method is aimed to ensuring the maintenance of a system, offering the possibility, when a fault occurs on a transmission chain, to quickly locate the fault, determine the type of fault and its magnitude. The second part of this report presents a harmonic study of photovoltaic modules using Bode plots. Using this method, it will be possible to determine the evolution of characteristic constants of photovoltaic modules (series resistance, parallel resistance, etc.) as a function of various parameters, especially illumination. This method will also lead to models of photovoltaic modules more comprehensive than those commonly used, and will thus offer a solution to perform simulations taking into account more parameters.