With the continuous expansion of the photovoltaic industry, more and more photovoltaic assets are entering the stage of specialized operation. Many power plants still suffer from the common problem of 'emphasizing construction over operation and maintenance', neglecting the crucial role of operation and maintenance management in the long-term benefits of power plants.
The operation and maintenance of photovoltaic power plants require a complete set of tools to ensure operational safety and efficiency. According to its functions, it can be divided into the following categories.
Daily inspections are divided into two methods: remote monitoring and on-site inspections. Remote monitoring monitors the real-time operation status of equipment through the operation and maintenance cloud platform. When the power generation suddenly drops by more than 15% or the string current dispersion rate exceeds 5%, the system automatically alarms and pushes it to the operation and maintenance personnel. On site inspections focus on checking the cleanliness of component surfaces, the tightening of bracket bolts, and the operating status of inverters.
Component maintenance: The cleaning frequency is determined according to the type of environment. It is recommended to clean twice a year in industrial areas, and natural flushing can be used in rainy season areas, but the blockage of drainage channels needs to be checked. Soft rubber shoes and protective gloves should be equipped during cleaning. It is strictly prohibited to step on components and frames, and cleaning tools should not be placed on components.
Check the operation of the cooling fan, screen alarm codes (with a focus on PID and ISO faults), and AC side voltage fluctuation range (± 10% of rated voltage). Inverter cooling channel cleaning.
Check the sealing of the box, the status of the components, and the flexibility of the switch operation to ensure that the grounding resistance is not greater than 4 Ω. The surge protector should be in an effective state.
Check the tightening torque of the bolts. If the area of anti-corrosion coating detachment exceeds 5cm², repainting is required. Check whether the brackets and bridge frames are corroded or deformed, and there should be no water accumulation inside the bridge frames.
Drone inspection has become an important means of operation and maintenance for large power plants. Through the technology of "unmanned aerial vehicle+infrared/visible light+AI intelligent analysis", precise management from comprehensive investigation to hidden danger closed-loop can be achieved. The AI system can accurately identify hidden dangers such as hot spots, dirt, and occlusion, with a positioning accuracy of centimeter level.
By timely cleaning and dust removal, eliminating heat spot hazards, and optimizing inverter operating parameters, the power generation efficiency of the power station can be improved by 8% -10%.
Intelligent operation and maintenance methods can significantly reduce labor costs.
Regularly inspecting the deformation of component frames, glass damage, EVA delamination, back panel scratches, and other issues to promptly detect and address defects can effectively extend the service life of the equipment. Reduce equipment failure rate through preventive maintenance and ensure long-term stable operation of the power station.
Standardized operation and maintenance processes can effectively reduce operational risks. Standardize high-voltage operations by implementing the process of "power outage → electricity inspection → discharge → grounding → tagging"; Ensure that there is a dedicated person to supervise high-voltage operations through a two person homework system; Reduce the risk of electric shock and falling by using insulated tools and safety protective equipment.
A multimeter is the basic equipment for operation and maintenance work, used for measuring string voltage and current, as well as measuring voltage and current at the input/output terminals of inverters. Clamp on ammeter can measure current without interrupting the circuit and is suitable for string current detection. A megohmmeter is used for insulation resistance testing to ensure that the insulation impedance on the DC side is not less than 1M Ω. An electrical tester is used for electrical verification before power outage operations, and a thermometer can quickly detect the surface temperature of the equipment.
Infrared thermal imager is the core tool for detecting hot spot effects, which can quickly scan the surface temperature distribution of components, identify abnormal hot spots, and can also be used to detect the temperature of cables, copper noses, and MC4 joints to prevent fire risks. The EL detector is used to detect internal hidden cracks in components, while the IV power tester is used to evaluate the performance of string power generation.
Drones play an important role in photovoltaic inspection, greatly improving operation and maintenance efficiency through efficient and precise intelligent technology. After being equipped with an infrared thermal imager, the drone can quickly identify abnormal heating of components and accurately locate hot spot faults; By generating a two-dimensional map or three-dimensional model of the photovoltaic array, AI algorithms can automatically mark the location of faults and generate inspection reports. At the same time, drone inspections avoid the risk of operation and maintenance personnel coming into contact with high-voltage equipment or climbing roofs, significantly improving operational safety. In practical applications, the efficiency of drone inspection can reach 28 times that of manual inspection, especially suitable for rapid survey of large ground power stations and distributed roof projects.
Safety helmets, insulated gloves, insulated boots, full body harnesses, and fall arresters are the basic protective equipment for operation and maintenance personnel. Insulated gloves should undergo inflation testing before use, and be paired with gauze gloves for sweat absorption and leather protective covers for scratch resistance. In addition, safety equipment such as discharge rods, grounding wires, safety fences, insulation barriers, and signs are also equipped.
The photovoltaic cleaning robot adopts a flexible spiral brush roller and low-pressure spray structure, with high cleaning coverage and no damage to the component glass. The lightweight model is compatible with a 25 ° tilt angle panel and can work for about 8 hours on a single charge. The cleaning drone can carry a load of up to 50 kilograms and can clean 500-800 square meters in a single operation. Traditional manual cleaning is equipped with soft rubber shoes, protective gloves, and specialized cleaning tools.
