Exploring insights on deep learning-based photovoltaic fault detection for monofacial and bifacial modules using thermography

Photovoltaic (PV) fault detection is crucial because undetected PV faults can lead to significant energy losses, with some cases experiencing losses of up to 10%. The efficiency of PV systems depends upon the reliable detection and diagnosis of faults. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques has been a growing trend in addressing these issues. The goal of this systematic review is to offer a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in AI-based methodologies for PV fault detection, consolidating the key findings from 31 research papers. An initial pool of 142 papers were identified, from which 31 were selected for in-depth review following the PRISMA guidelines. The title, objective, methods, and findings of each paper were analyzed, with a focus on machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) approaches. ML and DL are particularly suitable for PV fault detection because of their capacity to process and analyze large amounts of data to identify complex patterns and anomalies. This study identified several AI techniques used for fault detection in PV systems, ranging from classical ML methods like k-nearest neighbor (KNN) and random forest to more advanced deep learning models such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Quantum circuits and infrared imagery were also explored as potential solutions. The analysis found that DL models, in general, outperformed traditional ML models in accuracy and efficiency. This study shows that AI methodologies have evolved and been increasingly applied in PV fault detection. The integration of AI in PV fault detection offers high accuracy and effectiveness. After reviewing these studies, we proposed an Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based method for PV fault detection and classification.

Methods of photovoltaic fault detection and classification: A review

Solar array management and photovoltaic (PV) fault detection is critical for optimal and robust performance of solar plants. PV faults cause substantial power reduction along with health and fire hazards. Traditional machine learning solutions require large, labeled datasets which are often expensive and/or difficult to obtain. This data can be location and sensor specific, noisy, and resource intensive. In this paper, we develop and demonstrate new semi supervised solutions for PV fault detection. More specifically, we demonstrate that a little-known area of semi-supervised machine learning called positive unlabeled learning can effectively learn solar fault detection models using only a fraction of the labeled data required by traditional techniques. We further introduce a new feedback enhanced positive unlabeled learning algorithm that can increase model accuracy and performance in situations such as solar fault detection when few sensor features are available. Using these algorithms, we create a positive unlabeled solar fault detection model that can match and even exceed the performance of a fully supervised fault classifier using only 5% of the total labeled data.

The non-linear I-V characteristics of the photovoltaic output have affected fault detection methods to work accurately. This scenario can cause hidden faults in the system and reduces overall productivity. Fault detection and monitoring techniques are evolving in photovoltaic fault management systems. Until recently, modelbased technique, output signal analysis technique, statistically based technique, and machine learning techniques are the four main advanced fault detection methods that researchers have widely studied. This study has identified the limitations and advantages of previous photovoltaic fault detection and monitoring techniques, especially their applicability to all sizes of photovoltaic systems. This study proposes a multi-scale dual-stage photovoltaic fault detection and monitoring technique for better system safety, efficiency, and reliability. Challenges and suggestions for future research directions are also provided in this study. Overall, this study shall provide researchers and policymakers with a valuable reference for developing better fault detection and monitoring techniques for photovoltaic systems. Cite this article as: S. N. A. M. Ghazali and M. Z. Sujod, “A comparative analysis of solar photovoltaic advanced fault detection and monitoring techniques,” Electrica.23(1), 137-148, 2023.

One important characteristic of modern fault classification systems is the ability to flag the system when faced with previously unseen fault types. This work considers the unknown fault detection capabilities of deep neural network-based fault classifiers. Specifically, we propose a methodology on how, when available, labels regarding the fault taxonomy can be used to increase unknown fault detection performance without sacrificing model performance. To achieve this, we propose to utilize soft label techniques to improve the state-of-the-art deep novel fault detection techniques during the training process and novel hierarchically consistent detection statistics for online novel fault detection. Finally, we demonstrated increased detection performance on novel fault detection in inspection images from the hot steel rolling process, with results well replicated across multiple scenarios and baseline detection methods.

Photovoltaic (PV) system output electricity is related to PV cells’ conditions, with the PV faults decreasing the efficiency of the PV system and even causing a possible source of fire. In industrial production, PV fault detection is typically laborious manual work. In this paper, we present a method that can automatically detect PV faults. Based on the observation that different faults will have different impacts on a PV system, we propose a method that systematically and iteratively reconfigures the PV array until the faults are located based on the specific current-voltage (I-V) curve of the (sub-)array. Our method can detect several main types of faults including open-circuit faults, mismatch faults, short circuit faults, etc. We evaluate our methods by Matlab/Simulink-based simulation. The results show that the proposed methods can accurately detect and classify the different faults occurring in a PV system.

Diagnosis of photovoltaic faults using digital twin and PSO-optimized shifted window transformer

In this paper, we describe solar array monitoring using various machine learning methods including neural networks. We study fault detection using a quantum computer system and compare against results with a classical computer. We specifically propose a quantum circuit for a neural network implementation for Photovoltaic (PV) fault detection. The quantum circuit is designed for two qubits. Results and comparisons are presented for PV fault detection using a classical and quantum implementation of neural networks. In addition, simulations of a Quantum Neural Network are carried for a different number of qubits and results are presented for PV fault detection.

A deep transferable motion-adaptive fault detection method for industrial robots using a residual–convolutional neural network

A smart fault detection approach for PV modules using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference framework

This paper presents a framework for photovoltaic (PV) fault detection based on statistical, supervised, and unsupervised machine learning (ML) approaches. The research is motivated by a need to develop a cost-effective solution that detects the fault types within PV systems based on a real dataset with a minimum number of input features. We discover the appropriate conditions for method selection and establish how to minimize computational demand from different ML approaches. Subsequently, the PV dataset is labeled as a result of clustering and classification. The labelled dataset is then trained using various ML models before evaluating each based on accuracy, precision, and a confusion matrix. Notably, an accuracy ranging from 94% to 100% is achieved with datasets from two different PV systems. The model robustness is affirmed by performing the approach on an additional real-world dataset that exhibits noise and missing values.

The conventional deep learning-based fault diagnosis approach faces challenges under the domain shift problem, where the model encounters different working conditions from the ones it was trained on. This challenge is particularly pronounced in the diagnosis of planetary gearboxes due to the complicated vibrations they generate, which can vary significantly based on the system characteristics of the gearbox. To solve this challenge, this paper proposes a robust deep learning-based fault-detection approach for planetary gearboxes by utilizing an enhanced health data map (HDMap). Although there is an HDMap method that visually expresses the vibration signal of the planetary gearbox according to the gear meshing position, it is greatly influenced by machine operating conditions. In this study, domain-specific features from the HDMap are further removed, while the fault-related features are enhanced. Autoencoder-based residual analysis and digital image-processing techniques are employed to address the domain-shift problem. The performance of the proposed method was validated under significant domain-shift problem conditions, as demonstrated by studying two gearbox test rigs with different configurations operated under stationary and non-stationary operating conditions. Validation accuracy was measured in all 12 possible domain-shift scenarios. The proposed method achieved robust fault detection accuracy, outperforming prior methods in most cases.

As an indispensable part of carrier-based aircraft, the actuator system plays an important role in ensuring the flight safety. Fault detection and diagnosis of actuator are necessary for improving actuator system reliability. Motivated by solving the uncertainty problem in fault diagnosis of actuator system, which is caused by various reasons, such as bias and noise of sensors, this paper proposes a deep stacked autoencoder network-based (DSAEN) deep learning fault diagnosis method for flight control system. The flight parameters of carrier-based aircraft in different fault modes are measured, detected, and diagnosed by the proposed method. Simulated data is used to train the fault diagnosis model, as well as validate the proposed fault diagnosis method. Experimental results show that compared with traditional fault diagnosis methods, such as back propagation neural network (BPNN) algorithm, the proposed method has better robustness and higher accuracy.

In this paper, a deep learning fault detection approach is proposed based on the convolutional neural network in order to cope with one class of faults in wind turbine systems. Fault detection is very vital in nowadays industries due to the fact that instantly detection can prevent waste of cost and time. Deep learning as one of the powerful approaches in machine learning is a promising method to identify and classify the intrigued problems, which are hard to solve by classical methods. In this case, less than 5% performance reduction in generator torque along with sensor noise, which is challenging to identify by an operator or classical diagnosis methods is studied. The proposed algorithm, which is evolved from convolutional neural network idea, is evaluated in simulation based on a 4.8 MW wind turbine benchmark and the accuracy of the results confirms the persuasive performance of the suggested approach.

Automatic fault diagnosis for power system equipment has always been an essential concern in this industry. Conventionally, such works are conducted by manual patrol inspection, which consumes much human labor and expert knowledge. Fortunately, infrared images can present diagnosis areas inside the equipment via the thermal sensing function. In such context, this work utilizes deep neural network to construct a specific infrared image processing framework that can realize automatic fault diagnosis. Thus in this paper, a deep learning-based fault diagnosis approach for power system equipment via infrared image sensing is proposed. First, a pulse-coupled neural network structure is employed to enhance feature representation for infrared images of the equipment. Next, a fuzzy [Formula: see text]-means (FCM)-based segmentation method is developed to filter diagnosis areas from the infrared images. Finally, a convolution operation-based fault diagnosis operator is adopted to identify the diagnosis types. After that, some simulation experiments are conducted on real-world infrared images on the power system equipment, in order to make the performance evaluation of the proposed approach. The proposal realizes the end-to-end process of feature extraction and fault detection and identification, and avoids the problems of single feature. It is due to manual extraction of fault features, and the inability to detect and identify faults effectively in specific situations and scenarios.