Comprehensive Study, Simulation and Analysis of the Fault effects on the Performance of Different Photovoltaic Array Configurations

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) system fault analysis is crucial for improving the safety and efficiency of PV systems. Faults not only degrade performance but also negatively impact system longevity. Power output can be significantly affected by configuration, PV technology, partial shading (PS), and other operating conditions. Therefore, an accurate fault analysis requires studying the impact of faults on the performance of different photovoltaic array configurations (PVACs). The article conducts a detailed study and analysis of faults such as partial shading, bypass diode, open circuit, short circuit, line-to ground, line-to-line, and degradation. To analyze the combined effecton different configurations,the case of multiple faults occurring simultaneously, with varying irradiance is also considered. The PVACs examined include Series (S), Series-Parallel (SP), Total-Cross-Tied (TCT), Honey-Comb (HC) and Bridge Linked (BL). A 6x4 PV array was modeled and simulated under various scenarios to assess their impact on the performance of different PVACs and to determine the most suitable configuration for maximizing power output under these conditions. The obtained simulation results are compared and discussed. It has beenfound that using appropriate PVAC can minimize the impact of faults. The results show the superiority of S and SP PVACs, which provide the best performance in most fault scenarios. Furthermore, the TCT PVAC is no longer suitable in the case of a fault, unlike in the case of partial shading, where it outperforms the other PVACs in several situations.