A methodology for photovoltaic system reliability and economic analysis
It is pointed out that the operation of large terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) power systems (over 50 peak kilowatts) is a fairly recent event. The present investigation provides a review of the characteristics of current and future PV systems and selects a methodology to allow the system designer to consider system reliability and maintenance parameters early in the design. The goal is to minimize the cost of system output energy over system life. Thus, cost per kW-hour is the objective function which PV system designers should minimize. Attention is given to an integrated reliability, availability, maintainability (RAM) model, which represents failure and repair, and provides the corrective maintenance portion of the yearly maintenance cost. The RAM model and a life-cycle energy cost model are combined to provide the information the designer needs for system optimization.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Columbus Laboratories, Columbus, OH
- OSTI ID:
- 6537640
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Trans. Reliab.; (United States), Vol. R-31
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
MAINTENANCE
RELIABILITY
AVAILABILITY
FAULT TREE ANALYSIS
LIFE-CYCLE COST
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
SOLAR CELLS
CONVERSION
COST
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems