Wireless Sensor for Monitoring of Individual PV Modules

The paper deals with a module-level monitoring and diagnostic system consisting in wireless self-powered sensors installed on individual PV modules and performing real-time measurements of operating voltage and current, open-circuit voltage, and short-circuit current. A disconnection system assures that the PV sensor does not affect the behavior of the string during the measurement phase and allows many benefits like the automatic detection of bypass events. An experimental campaign is performed to prove the reliability and usefulness of the sensor for monitoring of PV plants. The capability to detect faults and to accurately localize malfunctioning modules in a PV string is highlighted.