A Dive into Diodes and Module Failures
A DIVE INTO DIODES AND MODULE FAILURES
Bypass
diodes are installed in the majority of PV modules to provide protection
against overheating and possible fires from shading, soiling, or damage. But
recent trends indicate that a growing number of them may be failing, causing
potential problems in the field. First
the fundamentals: what are diodes? How do bypass diodes interact with PV
circuits? And how do they affect energy production? Next, we will consider
failure modes and whether they are due to manufacturing issues or environmental
wear-and-tear. Diodes can fail open or closed, with different production and
safety ramifications from each mode, and other module issues can result in
these same symptoms. Finally, we will discuss strategies for finding and
remedying these failures with minimal downtime. We
will review case studies, field anecdotes, and evidence to provide insight into
issues that you may be having with PV arrays, in order to increase O&M
efficiency and ensure safe, functional systems for many years to come. This
training will be of interest to asset owners and operators, O&M service
providers, performance engineers, and module manufacturers.