Analysis of grounded and ungrounded photovoltaic systems

Author

Bower, Ward I. ; Wiles, John C.

Author_Institution

Photovoltaic Applications Dept., Sandia Nat. Labs., Albuquerque, NM, USA

Volume

1

fYear

1994

fDate

5-9 Dec 1994

Firstpage

809

Abstract

Grounding has always been a subject of controversy during discussions of electrical systems. Grounding techniques and requirements, like language, vary from region to region and country to country. Optimized grounding for personnel protection does not optimize the fire safety of a system and grounding for fire safety does not optimize personnel safety. Grounding to provide protection for equipment requires a third set of requirements. Photovoltaic (PV) power systems are current sources and require different grounding techniques than conventional voltage sources. Distributed leakage paths, multiple fault paths, and new roles for fuses and circuit breakers are among a few of the new issues that need careful consideration. This paper presents and analyzes the grounding issues associated with PV energy sources. Grounding configurations, faults, personnel safety, fire safety, and surge protection are addressed

Keywords

circuit breakers; earthing; electric fuses; electrical faults; fires; personnel; photovoltaic power systems; power system protection; safety; PV power systems; circuit breakers; current sources; distributed leakage paths; fire safety; fuses; grounding; multiple fault paths; personnel protection; surge protection; Circuit faults; Fires; Grounding; Personnel; Photovoltaic systems; Power system analysis computing; Power system faults; Power system protection; Safety; Solar power generation;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 1994., Conference Record of the Twenty Fourth. IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1994, 1994 IEEE First World Conference on

Conference_Location

Waikoloa, HI

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1460-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520083

Filename

520083