Reliability analysis on a photovoltaic system

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5922876

Risser, V V; Yazdani, E

The New Mexico Solar Energy Institute (NMSEI) is performing data analysis on system operation and maintenance for a 20-kilowatt flat-plate photovoltaic (PV) system located at El Paso Electric Company's Newman Power Station north of El Paso, Texas. To gain insight into the performance and life cycle costs, a reliability model for the PV system has been developed. The emphasis of the reliability analysis is being placed on the PV array itself. The reliability model of the array is discussed and the definition of system failure is given. The actual failures experienced to date are listed. Finally, a method used to detect and locate failures during system operation is discussed, and plans for future data acquisition and reliability analysis are given.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Solar Energy Inst., Las Cruces
• OSTI ID: 5922876
• Report Number(s): CONF-810509-(Vol.2)
• Journal Information: Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States), Vol. 4.2; Conference: Annual conference of the International Solar Energy Society, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 26 May 1981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
RELIABILITY
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
FAILURES
POWER RANGE 10-100 KW
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
TEXAS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
NORTH AMERICA
POWER SUPPLIES
PUBLIC UTILITIES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOUTHWEST REGION
USA
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems