A novel protection scheme to detect, discriminate, and locate electric faults in photovoltaic arrays using a minimal number of measurements

Quality degradation, power loss, and fire hazards are amongst the consequences of uncleared electric faults within photovoltaic (PV) arrays. This paper proposes an effective protection method for i) detecting using current variations, ii) discriminating them from other disturbances based on transient response PV cells, iii) locating faulty string arrays with a minimal number measurement sensors. To accomplish these, both dynamic static models cells taken into account whilst formulating problem. evaluate performance proposed method, prototype solar plant is simulated under wide variety normal abnormal conditions in PSCAD-EMTDC software. The simulation results verify method’s high speed desirable accuracy. Independency meteorological data need sensors salient advantages method. Therefore, implementation this would be affordable systems different scales.