Failure Mode Analysis for Accident Prevention in PV Systems

The installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems has been increasing globally and so has the number of related accidents.In South Korea, many PV systems are installed in mountainous areas; hence, they are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and safety incidents.However, most existing studies on PV system failures have focused on improving efficiency, paying limited attention to safety aspects.Furthermore, in many cases, when a PV accident occurs, the faulty equipment is simply replaced, and the system resumes operation without conducting and considering a thorough failure analysis.This study applies the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) method to analyze the PV system failure modes and prioritize risks.Failure modes are categorized based on major PV components, such as modules, inverters, junction boxes, connectors, and cables, with classifications for potential failures being associated with each component.A total of 29 failure modes were identified, and a survey was conducted among PV industry professionals to assess the severity, occurrence, and detection of each failure mode.Based on these results, Risk Priority Numbers (RPN) were calculated.Key failure modes, such as bypass diode connection failure, cable corrosion, and inverter switching element damage, were evaluated according to the FMEA criteria.Based on this evaluation, specific prevention and mitigation measures are proposed.