Automating Methods for Validating PV Plant Equipment Labels

Joseph Ranalli, William B. Hobbs

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Operators of utility scale photovoltaic plants can face challenges in accurately matching operational data at various levels with their physical locations in the plant. This may have financial implications due to misdirected maintenance efforts. A method to predict equipment locations using time series data analysis was developed, but previously relied on some manual processing. This paper details efforts to automate the technique for improved efficiency and to facilitate operational deployment. The automated methodology relies on selecting ideal cloud motion vectors by targeting time periods based on their variability score metric. Ten vectors with well-spaced angular directions were selected after filtering based on quality control parameters. After the analysis methodology was run for an entire plant, mislabeled equipment was detected by implementing optimization code for solving the well-known Assignment Problem. Because predicted equipment positions have a circular dependence on their original expected positions, the process was applied iteratively as mislabeled entities were identified to converge to a final assignment of predicted position for each plant component. The results from this algorithmic methodology agree with the validated results from the original manual method. These improvements further the goal of offering the method as a ready-to-use tool for validating the physical locations of equipment within a utility-scale photovoltaic plant.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2024 IEEE 52nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2024
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages310-315
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781665464260
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Event52nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2024 - Seattle, United States
Duration: Jun 9 2024Jun 14 2024

Publication series

NameConference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
ISSN (Print)0160-8371

Conference

Conference52nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySeattle
Period6/9/246/14/24

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Automating Methods for Validating PV Plant Equipment Labels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this