Advanced Diagnosis and Accelerated Testing of Balance of System Components for Utility Scale PV Installations: October 1, 2022-September 30, 2024

Research output: NRELTechnical Report

Abstract

A study of the durability of PV Balance of System components was performed. Specifically, wire cable jackets and cable connectors were examined within the direct current (DC) PV Power Transmission Chain (PTC). Degraded and failed samples have been obtained from utility PV installations to provide feedback on the degradation modes and the related damage-enabling considerations in today's PV systems. An industry interface group (including system owners, system inspectors, component manufacturers, and test labs) was used to help identify and obtain field-failed samples, for feedback (including samples and experimental design), and to facilitate the subsequent dissemination of the results of this study. Samples were empirically studied using accelerated stress testing with steady-state conditions (cable jackets) in addition to combined-accelerated stress testing (cable jackets, connectors and uncapped connectors). Steady-state accelerated testing has been performed using at least one applied stressor (e.g. UV light) to aid understanding of jacket durability relative to its application. Component- and material-focused failure analysis was conducted to develop an understanding and advise the PV industry. In-depth characterization will be applied selectively to field- and artificially aged-samples, to gain scientific understanding of the structural, chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties enabling degradation.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages44
StatePublished - 2025

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/TP-5K00-91818

Keywords

  • cable
  • cable connectors
  • DSC
  • durability
  • EDS
  • FTIR
  • International PV Quality Assurance Task Force (PVQAT)
  • nanoindentation
  • reliability
  • SEM
  • TGA
  • UV weathering
  • wire harness
  • XCT

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