Failure of Photovoltaic Modules under Lightning and Thunderstorms
E. Suresh Kumar1, Bijan Sarkar2, Dhiren Kumar Behera3
1E. Suresh Kumar, Production Engineering Department Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
2Dr. Bijan Sarkar, Production Engineering Department Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
3Dhiren Kumar Behera, Mechanical Engineering Department Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, India.
Manuscript received on January 30, 2013. | Revised Manuscript received on February 12, 2013. | Manuscript published on February 28, 2013. | PP: 152-156 | Volume-2 Issue-3, February 2013. | Retrieval Number: C1053022313/2013©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Lightning strikes can affect photovoltaic generators and their exposed installation sites as well as the sensitive electronics of the inverter. Therefore, it is necessary, to estimate the risk by lightning strikes, and to take these results into account for the design. IEC (EN) 62305-2 states procedures and data for the calculation of the risk resulting from lightning strikes into structures and for the choice of lightning protection systems. Actually, the technical guidelines for installation suggest protecting with SPD’s (surge protective device) both the DC and AC sides of the PV plant. The aim of this paper is to estimate voltages due to lightning discharges and to determine the effective need of lightning protection measures on the basis of the risk analysis and the protection costs.
Keywords: Lightning electromagnetic impulse, Lightning current arresters, Earth Termination System, Lightning protection level, Lightning flash count.