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Fault Detection and performance visualisation for a grid-connected Photovoltaic Power Plant using sensor data

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.

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Main Author: Dyamond, Wayne Peter
Other Authors: Rix, Arnold J.
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2019
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access_status_str Open Access
author Dyamond, Wayne Peter
author2 Rix, Arnold J.
author_browse Dyamond, Wayne Peter
Rix, Arnold J.
author_facet Rix, Arnold J.
Dyamond, Wayne Peter
author_sort Dyamond, Wayne Peter
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/107181
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:40:55.520Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2019
publishDateRange 2019
publishDateSort 2019
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/107181 Fault Detection and performance visualisation for a grid-connected Photovoltaic Power Plant using sensor data Dyamond, Wayne Peter Rix, Arnold J. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Sensors UCTD Fault tolerance (Engineering) Grid lines Photovoltaic power systems Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2019. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rising energy demand and need for alternatives to fossil fuel based power generation have increased the utilisation of photovoltaic (PV) power plants. The reliable operation of PV power plants will maximise energy delivery, boost public opinion on PV technology and lead to financial gains for investors. Accurate fault detection and effective plant performance reporting could significantly reduce system downtime, power loss and safety hazards. The work presented in this document aims to investigate improvements to fault detection and performance visualisation for an utility-scale PV power plant using measured sensor data. 560 GB of operational data from a 75 MWp capacity solar power plant is obtained for the research project. Data pre-processing and cleaning results in a 167 GB dataset containing measured values for 12 595 different signals over the period of three years. A fault detection procedure based on the comparison of modelled and measured string-pair current is proposed. The expected current is modelled using the single diode electrical model. The Euclidean distance between the measured and expected values is calculated for all string-pairs in the power plant. Events are flagged as possible faults when the corresponding Euclidean distance is considered an outlier. The fault detection procedure is tested on the dataset and a sample accuracy of 94:67% is achieved. A visualisation tool based on the performance comparison of all string-pairs is developed. The visualisation is used to verify events detected during the fault detection procedure as well as visualise average performance and degradation differences between string-pairs. An average DC degradation rate of 0:38% per year is observed during string-pair degradation analysis. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toenemende energie aanvraag en behoefte om alternatiewe bronne vir energieopwekking te gebruik, het gelei tot die ontwikkeling van meer fotovoltaïese (FV) kragstasies. Betroubare werksverrigting van FV-kragsentrales sal die energie-opbrengs verhoog, die publiek se mening oor FV-tegnologie verbeter en tot hoër winste vir beleggers lei. Akkurate foutopsporing en effektiewe verslagewing van aanleg werksverrigting kan stelsel stiltand, kragverlies en veiligheidsrisiko's aansienlik verminder. Die navorsing wat in hierdie dokument uitgel ê word, mik om verbeteringe aan foutopsporing en visualisering van stelsel uitset vir 'n netwerkverbindte FV-kragstasie te ondersoek. 560 GB se gemete sensor data van 'n 75 MWp sonkragaanleg word in hierdie navorsingsprojek ondersoek. Verwerking van die data verminder die grote tot 167 GB. Die datastel bevat meetingswaardes vir 12 595 verskillende bronne vir drie jaar. 'n Foutopsporingprosedure, gebaseer op die vergelyking van gemodelleerde en gemete stringpaarstroom waardes, word aangebied. Die verwagte stroom word gemodelleer met behulp van die enkeldiode elektriese model. Die Euklidiese verskil tussen die gemete en verwagte waardes word bereken vir alle stringpare in die kragsentrale. Uitskieters word as moontlike foute geïdentifiseer. Die foutopspooringprosedure word op die datastel getoets en behaal 'n steekproef akkuraatheid van 94:67%. 'n Visualiseringstoepassing, wat die werkverrigting van alle stringpare vergelyk, word ontwikkel. Die visualisering word gebruik om gebeurtenisse wat tydens die foutopspooringprosedure geïdentifiseer is, te bevestig. Die toepassing word ook gebruik om die verskille in gemiddelde uitset en agteruitgang van drywing tussen stringpare te visualiseer. 'n Gemiddelde gelykstroom-agteruitgangskoers van 0:38% per jaar word waargeneem tydens die analise. Masters 2019-11-20T09:42:01Z 2019-12-11T06:51:36Z 2019-11-20T09:42:01Z 2019-12-11T06:51:36Z 2019-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/107181 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 114 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Sensors
UCTD
Fault tolerance (Engineering)
Grid lines
Photovoltaic power systems
Dyamond, Wayne Peter
Fault Detection and performance visualisation for a grid-connected Photovoltaic Power Plant using sensor data
title Fault Detection and performance visualisation for a grid-connected Photovoltaic Power Plant using sensor data
title_full Fault Detection and performance visualisation for a grid-connected Photovoltaic Power Plant using sensor data
title_fullStr Fault Detection and performance visualisation for a grid-connected Photovoltaic Power Plant using sensor data
title_full_unstemmed Fault Detection and performance visualisation for a grid-connected Photovoltaic Power Plant using sensor data
title_short Fault Detection and performance visualisation for a grid-connected Photovoltaic Power Plant using sensor data
title_sort fault detection and performance visualisation for a grid connected photovoltaic power plant using sensor data
topic Sensors
UCTD
Fault tolerance (Engineering)
Grid lines
Photovoltaic power systems
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/107181
work_keys_str_mv AT dyamondwaynepeter faultdetectionandperformancevisualisationforagridconnectedphotovoltaicpowerplantusingsensordata