A Cost-Effective Wireless Diagnostic Instrument for On-Line Characterization of PV Strings

The I-V curve tracer is a diagnostic instrument for assessing the I-V characteristics of PV strings. It is extensively utilized to gauge power generation efficiency and detect potential issues within PV strings. To enhance the precision and accuracy of data collection, various I-V tracer techniques have been devised. This article presents an innovative and cost-effective Online I-V Tracer Tool (OIVTT) designed specifically for high-power PV strings, The system operates online, allowing I-V tracing without taking the plant offline, while meeting the load's power requirements during the process. The proposed system utilizes an IGBT as a variable load, incorporates wireless data acquisition and Kodular-based mobile App communication module. The embedded control algorithm ensures equal spacing of data points throughout the I-V curve, maintaining a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 10%. Comparative analysis between the experimental curve and the standard mathematical model demonstrates the OIVTT’s ability to track real-time performance variations, with an overall deviation below 2%. These results emphasize the OIVTT’s reliability, accuracy, and its potential as a cost-effective alternative to commercial I-V tracers for diagnostics and maintenance in PV systems.