AIR Option 1: Technology Translation - Smart Power Protection Devices for Photovoltaic Installations

该PFI: AIR技术翻译项目致力于为光伏发电装置翻译智能故障检测方法，以填补太阳能光伏发电装置危险电气故障识别和防护的技术空白。翻译后的科学/技术具有以下独特的特点：1)利用机器学习来识别光伏阵列中的故障类型和故障位置；2)能够清除传统保险丝或其他故障保护装置目前无法清除的故障；3)它将是一个完全集成的保险丝座和盒子，具有用户界面，允许用户监控光伏阵列的性能。新的太阳能光伏保护技术将能够隔离、清除和识别光伏故障的类型和位置。这包括目前对光伏装置构成火灾危险的几种类型的故障，例如在大型装置中，当分支或电线意外连接两个不同的光伏阵列时可能发生的线对线故障。与市场上领先的科学/技术（如传统保险丝或断路器）相比，新型智能保险丝保护增加了典型的安全性、可靠性，甚至增加了能量输送。该项目通过运行智能故障检测算法来实现这一目标，该算法利用机器学习、光伏的非线性模型预测、光伏电流和电压的智能测量，从而产生一种识别危险故障位置和类型的方法。原型智能过流保护装置将建立与小型化的独立电子设备。该保护装置将在光伏装置中进行测试，以证明其商业可行性和效益。该合作伙伴关系使美尔森美国纽伯里港有限责任公司为保险丝/过流保护制造和商业市场提供指导。美尔森将帮助制造原型智能保险丝座，并在他们的实验室光伏设备中进行测试。在整个项目中，美尔森将领导产品测试、客户调查以及其他商业化和融资方面的工作，因为它们与将智能光伏保险丝保护科学/技术转化为具有竞争力的商业现实的潜力有关。预计潜在的经济影响将是：1)创建智能光伏保护保险丝的新产品市场，预计在项目结束后的2到3年内每年将达到75万美元以上；2)通过使光伏装置对消费者更安全，消费者市场进一步接受太阳能光伏能源。智能光伏保护装置将有助于美国在这个光伏装置市场上的竞争力，因为每个太阳能光伏阵列的安装都必须使用（通常是多个）过流保护装置，如熔断器。从长远来看，其社会影响将是提高任何光伏装置的安全性，由于故障的即时知识而增加发电量，以及更好地实时诊断可能需要维修的光伏阵列导致的发电量下降。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating smart fault detection methods for photovoltaic (PV) installations to fill the technology gap of identifying and protecting against dangerous electrical faults in solar PV installations. The translated science/technology has the following unique features: 1) it uses machine learning to identify fault type and fault location in the PV arrays; 2) it will be able to clear faults that traditional fuses or other fault protection devices cannot presently clear; 3) it will be a fully integrated fuse holder and box that has user interface allowing the user to monitor the PV array performance. The new solar PV protection technology will be able to isolate, clear, and identify the type and location of PV fault. This includes several types of faults that presently pose fire hazards to PV installations, such as line-to-line faults that may occur when branches or wires accidentally connect two different PV arrays in a big installation. The new, smart fuse protection adds exemplary safety, reliability, and even increased energy delivery when compared to the leading competing science/technology, such as traditional fuses or circuit breakers in this market space. The project accomplishes this goal by running smart fault detection algorithms that utilize machine learning, nonlinear model prediction of PVs, intelligent measurements of PV currents and voltages, resulting in a method to identify hazardous fault location and types. Prototype smart over-current protection devices will be built with miniaturized self-contained electronics. The protection devices will be tested in PV installations to demonstrate their commercial viability and benefits.The partnership engages Mersen USA Newburyport-LLC to provide guidance in the fuse/over-current protection manufacturing and commercial market. Mersen will help manufacture the prototype smart fuse holders and test them in their lab PV facilities. Throughout the project, Mersen will lead product testing, customer surveys and other aspects of commercialization and financing as they pertain to the potential to translate the smart PV fuse protection science/technology along a path that may result in a competitive commercial reality. The potential economic impact is expected to be 1) the creation of a new product market in smart PV protection fuses projected to reach more than $750k annually within 2 to 3 years of the project conclusion and 2) the further acceptance of solar PV energy in the consumer marketplace by making the PV installations safer to the consumer. The smart PV protection devices will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in this PV installation market, since each installation of solar PV array must utilize (usually multiple) over-current protection devices, such as fuses. The societal impact, long term, will be improved safety of any PV installation, increased energy yield due to immediate knowledge of fault, and better diagnosis in real-time of any reductions of energy yield caused by PV arrays that may need repair.