ARCOSTOP

electric arc detection system for photovoltaic systems - fire protection

 

AN ELECTRIC ARC IN PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS CAN CAUSE FIRES.

electric arc detection system can be installed both in already existing photovoltaic systems (without modifying the pv installation) and in photovoltaic systems under construction (new systems), and both in small and big ones. The detector is exceptionally reliable since it does not give false alarms. It has been also tested and approved conformingly to UL1699B American standards.

 

FIRES IN PV SYSTEMS ARE CAUSED MOSTLY BY ELECTRIC ARCS. They derive from system failures, for example: incorrectly installed or defective or aging system, inadequate maintenance, breaks caused by animals or weather, inadequate ground fault protection, cables insulation breakdowns, rupture of a module, faulty connections, and others. Fires can set in hot spots and ignite combustible material nearby, provoking dangerous occurrences, especially for people. PV systems on industrial and commercial buildings are a relatively new fire risk that is not controlled by conventional fire protection systems. When there is a serie electric arc, the ARCOSTOP system detects an abnormal frequency and removes the breakdown very quickly before fire starts. The ARCOSTOP system is composed by as many toroidal sensors as the strings of the PV system, and they are put in a handy place to be wired and installed. The toroidal sensors can stay outdoor, since they have an IP67, i.e. they are protected from dust and rain, or near inverters. These toroidal sensors must be connected to the electronic board, which is inside the electronic panel. When necessary, additional batteries can be provided (similarly to a smoke detection system). ARCOSTOP can detect arcs coming both from the sensor and from components placed downstream of the PV system. ARCOSTOP provides to report the event, both visually trough a lighting red led and by sending a voice message via GSM. The ARCOSTOP detector must be calibrated, since it detects all the frequencies, including, for example, the noises provoked by machinery in the building or military frequencies, and it is necessary to set the arc frequency. If the ARCOSTOP system is not calibrated well, it could give false alarms or could not work at its best.

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