Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors

Eric Schindelholz; Benjamin B. Yang; Kenneth M. Armijo; Bonnie B. McKenzie; Jason M. Taylor; N. Robert Sorensen; Olga Lavrova

doi:10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425

Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors

Eric Schindelholz
, Benjamin B. Yang
, Kenneth M. Armijo
, Bonnie B. McKenzie
, Jason M. Taylor
, N. Robert Sorensen
, Olga Lavrova

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three balance of systems (BOS) connector designs common to industry were investigated as a means of assessing reliability from the perspective of arc fault risk. These connectors were aged in field and laboratory environments and performance data captured for future development of a reliability model. Comparison of connector resistance measured during damp heat, mixed flowing gas and field exposure in a light industrial environment indicated disparities in performance across the three designs. Performance was, in part, linked to materials of construction. A procedure was developed to evaluate new and aged connectors for arc fault risk and tested for one of the designs. Those connectors exposed to mixed flowing gas corrosion exhibited considerable Joule heating that may enhance arcing behavior, suggesting temperature monitoring as a potential method for arc fault prognostics. These findings, together with further characterization of connector aging, can provide operators of photovoltaic installations the information necessary to develop a data-driven approach to BOS connector maintenance as well as opportunities for arc fault prognostics.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479979448
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425
State	Published - Dec 14 2015
Externally published	Yes
Event	42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 - New Orleans, United States Duration: Jun 14 2015 → Jun 19 2015

Publication series

Name	2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015

Other

Other	42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	New Orleans
Period	6/14/15 → 6/19/15

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 IEEE.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

accelerated aging
connector
corrosion
electrical contact
reliability

Publisher link

10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425

Find It

Find It at U of M Libraries

Cite this

Schindelholz, E., Yang, B. B., Armijo, K. M., McKenzie, B. B., Taylor, J. M., Sorensen, N. R., & Lavrova, O. (2015). Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors. In 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 Article 7356425 (2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425

Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors. / Schindelholz, Eric; Yang, Benjamin B.; Armijo, Kenneth M. et al.
2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. 7356425 (2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Schindelholz, E, Yang, BB, Armijo, KM, McKenzie, BB, Taylor, JM, Sorensen, NR & Lavrova, O 2015, Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors. in 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015., 7356425, 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015, New Orleans, United States, 6/14/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425

Schindelholz E, Yang BB, Armijo KM, McKenzie BB, Taylor JM, Sorensen NR et al. Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors. In 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2015. 7356425. (2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015). doi: 10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425

@inproceedings{9697ab1a344249969b4dddc3bf765758,

title = "Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors",

abstract = "Three balance of systems (BOS) connector designs common to industry were investigated as a means of assessing reliability from the perspective of arc fault risk. These connectors were aged in field and laboratory environments and performance data captured for future development of a reliability model. Comparison of connector resistance measured during damp heat, mixed flowing gas and field exposure in a light industrial environment indicated disparities in performance across the three designs. Performance was, in part, linked to materials of construction. A procedure was developed to evaluate new and aged connectors for arc fault risk and tested for one of the designs. Those connectors exposed to mixed flowing gas corrosion exhibited considerable Joule heating that may enhance arcing behavior, suggesting temperature monitoring as a potential method for arc fault prognostics. These findings, together with further characterization of connector aging, can provide operators of photovoltaic installations the information necessary to develop a data-driven approach to BOS connector maintenance as well as opportunities for arc fault prognostics.",

keywords = "accelerated aging, connector, corrosion, electrical contact, reliability",

author = "Eric Schindelholz and Yang, \{Benjamin B.\} and Armijo, \{Kenneth M.\} and McKenzie, \{Bonnie B.\} and Taylor, \{Jason M.\} and Sorensen, \{N. Robert\} and Olga Lavrova",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 IEEE.; 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 ; Conference date: 14-06-2015 Through 19-06-2015",

year = "2015",

month = dec,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425",

language = "English (US)",

series = "2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

booktitle = "2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors

AU - Schindelholz, Eric

AU - Yang, Benjamin B.

AU - Armijo, Kenneth M.

AU - McKenzie, Bonnie B.

AU - Taylor, Jason M.

AU - Sorensen, N. Robert

AU - Lavrova, Olga

PY - 2015/12/14

Y1 - 2015/12/14

N2 - Three balance of systems (BOS) connector designs common to industry were investigated as a means of assessing reliability from the perspective of arc fault risk. These connectors were aged in field and laboratory environments and performance data captured for future development of a reliability model. Comparison of connector resistance measured during damp heat, mixed flowing gas and field exposure in a light industrial environment indicated disparities in performance across the three designs. Performance was, in part, linked to materials of construction. A procedure was developed to evaluate new and aged connectors for arc fault risk and tested for one of the designs. Those connectors exposed to mixed flowing gas corrosion exhibited considerable Joule heating that may enhance arcing behavior, suggesting temperature monitoring as a potential method for arc fault prognostics. These findings, together with further characterization of connector aging, can provide operators of photovoltaic installations the information necessary to develop a data-driven approach to BOS connector maintenance as well as opportunities for arc fault prognostics.

AB - Three balance of systems (BOS) connector designs common to industry were investigated as a means of assessing reliability from the perspective of arc fault risk. These connectors were aged in field and laboratory environments and performance data captured for future development of a reliability model. Comparison of connector resistance measured during damp heat, mixed flowing gas and field exposure in a light industrial environment indicated disparities in performance across the three designs. Performance was, in part, linked to materials of construction. A procedure was developed to evaluate new and aged connectors for arc fault risk and tested for one of the designs. Those connectors exposed to mixed flowing gas corrosion exhibited considerable Joule heating that may enhance arcing behavior, suggesting temperature monitoring as a potential method for arc fault prognostics. These findings, together with further characterization of connector aging, can provide operators of photovoltaic installations the information necessary to develop a data-driven approach to BOS connector maintenance as well as opportunities for arc fault prognostics.

KW - accelerated aging

KW - connector

KW - corrosion

KW - electrical contact

KW - reliability

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84961658220

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84961658220#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425

DO - 10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356425

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84961658220

T3 - 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015

BT - 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015

Y2 - 14 June 2015 through 19 June 2015

ER -

Characterization of fire hazards of aged photovoltaic balance-of-systems connectors

Abstract

Publication series

Other

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Publisher link

Find It

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this