ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN

PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEM

P K Bhattacharyya
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Typical Photovoltaic System

PV Systems from tens of W to multi MW

Voltages from 12 V to 1.000 V and more

Leakage Capacitances 50F 1000 F

earthed and unearthed arrays and array frames

Transformer and inverter isolation:

- 50/60 Hz Transformers
- Transformerless
- HF transformer
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Standards

International (IEC) for installations

IEC 60364-7-712:2002-05 Electrical installations of buildings Part 7-
712: Requirements for special installations or locations Solar
photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems
Technical specifications IEC TS 62257-7-1:2006-12 Recommendations
for small renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification
Part 7-1: Generators Photovoltaic arrays
-Technical specifications IEC 62257-5:2005-07 Recommendations for
small renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification
Part 5: Protection against electrical hazards

International (IEC) for PV inverters

IEC 62109-1 Ed.1: IEC 62109-1 Safety of power converters for use in
photovoltaic power systems - Part 1: General requirements
IEC 62109-2 Ed.1: Safety of power converters for use in photovoltaic
power systems - Part 2: Particular requirements for inverters

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Topologies of PV Power System

String inverter Centralised inverter

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Earthing Configuration in PV Power System

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Benefits of Ungrounded/Unearthed PV Power System

Continuity of supply in case of 1st Fault

Increased safety against Fire risks

Increased Personal Safety

- - No AC ripple at PV modules
- - Double Faults do not lead to dangerous touch
voltages

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Protective goals acc. to IEC 60364-4-41

Reliability
Availability
Quality
&
Security of
Power Supply

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Installation requirements acc. to IEC 60364-7-712

IEC 60364-7-712
- 712.312.2 Earthing of DC side is permitted if separation between AC and DC side
- 712.411.1 Protection by SELV / PELV max. DC 120 V
- 712.413.1 Protection by automatic disconnection
On AC side, the PV supply cable shall be connected to
the supply side of the protective device for automatic
disconnection of circuits supplying current-using equipment
PV system without separation between AC and the
DC side an RCD installed to provide fault protection
by automatic disconnection of supply shall be type B
Protection by us of class II or equivalent insulation
shoud preferable be adopted on the DC side
- 712.522.8.3
PV string cables, PV array cables and PV DC main cables shall be selected and erected
so as to minimize the risk of earth faults and short circuits
- 712.536.2.1.1
To allow maintenance of the PV inverter, means of isolating
PV inverter from the DC side and the AC side shall be provided.

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Typical Photovoltaic Power System

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Electric Safety in PV Power System

Condition Monitoring System to provide advance alarm

without tripping.

- Insulation Monitoring & fault location system for

ungrounded system

- Residual Current Monitoring System for grounded system

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On-line Insulation Monitoring & Fault Location
System for Ungrounded Power System

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Advanced information thanks to early indication

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Insulation Monitoring in Ungrounded PV Power System

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Ungrounded System with Localization of Faults

Ip
Insulation fault
IRDH575
R=10kOhm EDS460-L
EDS:off-auto-
EDS on auto
Adr2 k3 12mA

RS485

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Insulation Monitoring/ Insulation Fault Location System

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Field Implementation

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Residual Current Monitoring System for
Grounded Power System

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Advanced information thanks to early indication

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Residual Current Monitoring in Earthed PV System

Inverter with separating transformer, array and application circuit earthed

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Residual Current Monitoring in Earthed PV System

Transformerless inverter, application circuit earthed

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Grounded System with Localization of Faults

BMS

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Thank you very much!

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