Rapid shutdown arc fault presentation SPI 2014

Built for the real world Solectria Renewables / Company Confidential © 2014
www.solectria.com
Meeting New Arc Fault
Detection and Rapid
Shutdown Requirements
Claude Colp
Applications Engineer
claude.colp@solectria.com

www.solectria.com
Solectria Renewables
Company Overview

Solectria History
Solectria divests
vehicle products to
Azure Dynamics
Original 10kW
UL Listed
Solectria
Corporation
Founded
Introduced the SGI 500XTM & SGI 750XTM
External Transformer
Introduced SGI 500 Premium Efficiency model with inverters
1989 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
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60/82/95KW
UL Listed
SolrenView Web
Monitoring Introduced
Capacity Expansion to
200MW
PVI 60/77/90KW
UL Listed
PVI 13-15KW
UL Listed
PVI 3000-5300
Introduced
MSS
Introduced
Capacity Expansion to
800MW
Disconnecting String Combiners
Introduced
PVI 3800-7600TL,
1Ph transformerless
PVI 14-28TL, 3-phase
transformerless inverters
SGI 500XT transformerless 600V
DC inverter introduced
2013
2014
97.5% CEC efficiency – highest in the industry
Capacity
Expansion
to 350MW
Introduced PVI 50/60/75/85/100KW
& Premium Efficiency Models
• 1989 – Solectria Corporation founded
• 2005 – Solectria Corp. EV division sold to Azure
Dynamics
• 2005 – Solectria Renewables founded
• 2014 – Solectria became wholly owned
subsidiary of Yaskawa Electric
Solectria
Renewables
Founded
SGI Series
UL Listed
New SolrenView GUI
Introduced
Yaskawa Electric Acquires Solectria
Renewables as wholly owned subsidiary
ARCCOM (AFDI String Combiner)
Introduction

Yaskawa and Solectria
Yaskawa Electric Corp:
• $3.6 billion Japanese firm focused on motor drives, automation controls
and other electrical components
• Company founded in 1915
• 5th largest Japanese inverter supplier, but no U.S. presence
• Global leader in quality
• Manufacturing locations in strategic PV markets
• Track record for technological advancement and leadership
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North American Presence
• Nationwide service locations to support
o Commissioning
o Rapid response times
• Nationwide Sales offices
• Strategies in place to expand into South/Central America
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Solectria Office/Sales/Service
Solectria Sales
Service

… Even More Solutions from the Industry’s
Best Inverter Lineup
www.solectria.com
PV Inverters
Utility External Transformer Inverters 500-750 kW
Megawatt Solar Stations 1-2MW
Commercial Central Inverters, 50-100, 225-500 kW
3-Phase String 14-28 kW
Residential String Inverters 3.8-7.6 kW
String Combiners
Web-Based Monitoring
PVI 3800-7600TL
PVI 14-20TL
PVI 23-28TL
PVI 50-100KW
SGI 225-500PE
SGI 500XT
SGI 500XTM
SGI 750XTM

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NEC 2008-2014

New/Imminent Code Requirements
NEC 2008
 No Arc-Fault Requirements
 The Danger Zone
NEC 2011
 Arc-Fault (690.11)
 Fuse Servicing Disconnects (690.16)
NEC 2014
 Grounded Conductor Ground Fault (690.5)
 Rapid Shutdown (690.12)
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NEC 2014 Adoption
• NEC 2014 adoption varies state by state
• By the end of 2014, 18 states plan to adopt NEC 2014
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Primary System Topologies
• Disconnecting string combiner with AFDI + 3-phase central inverter
• 3-phase string inverter with AFDI
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+

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Rapid Shutdown

690.12 (C) Facilities with Rapid Shutdown
• NEC 690.12 (C) states: PV system circuits installed on or in buildings shall include
a rapid shutdown function that controls specific conductors in accordance with
690.12(1) through (5) as follows:
(1) Requirements for controlled conductors shall apply only to PV system conductors of more than
1.5m (5 ft) in length inside a building , or more than 3m (10 ft) from a PV array.
(2) Controlled Conductors shall be limited to not more than 30V and 240 volt-amperes within 10
seconds of rapid shutdown initiation.
(3) Voltage and power shall be measured between any conductor and ground
(4) The rapid shutdown initiation methods shall be labeled in accordance with 690.56(B)
(5) Equipment that performs the rapid shutdown shall be listed and identified.
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Rapid Shutdown Controlled Conductors
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To Inverter
10 foot boundary

ON
ON
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To Inverter
10 foot boundary 24V
dc
ON
ON

OFF
OFF
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To Inverter
10 foot boundary 24V
dc
OFF
OFF

DC Bus Capacitance
ON
ON
ON
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24V
dc
ON
DC Contactors in the inverter
open when AC is off
ON
AC Disconnect
ON
SGI, SGI XT, and SGI XTM all have DC Vacuum Contactors

OFF
OFF
OFF
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24V
dc
OFF
OFF
AC Disconnect
OFF
SGI, SGI XT, and SGI XTM all have DC Vacuum Contactors
DC Contactors in the inverter
open when AC is off
DC Bus Capacitance

DC Bus Capacitance
ON
ON
ON
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24V
dc
ON
ON
AC Disconnect
ON
DC Bus Capacitance
must discharge
within 10s
PVI does this in 2.5s
PVI does not have DC Vacuum Contactors

OFF
DC Bus Capacitance
OFF
OFF
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24V
dc
OFF
OFF
AC Disconnect
PVI does not have DC Vacuum Contactors
OFF
DC Bus Capacitance
must discharge
within 10s
PVI does this in 2.5s

Controlled Conductors with 3-Phase String Inverters
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To Panelboard
10 foot boundary
ON
AC Disconnect
ON
ON
ON

Controlled Conductors with 3-Phase String Inverters
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To Panelboard
10 foot boundary
OFF
AC Disconnect
OFF
OFF
OFF

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Unfortunately, no breaker
that fits in a residential panel
exists!

ARCCOM
Arc-Fault Enabled String Combiners
• ARCCOM
o 8, 12, 16 or 24 Fused Inputs
• Critical Component for:
o Arc Fault (690.11)
o Rapid Shutdown (690.12)
o Fuse Servicing Disconnects (690.16)
• Key Features:
o 600 or 1000 VDC
o Contactor disconnect
o Audible indication
o LED indicators
o Dry contact indication
o Lowest power consumption in the industry
• Options
o Stud connections for field-crimped lugs
o Surge arrestor
o Internal power supply
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Optional 120Vac
Power Supply
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Arc Fault
Detection
Circuitry
Optional Type 2
DC SPD
DC Vacuum
Contactor
Finger Safe Fuse
Holders
DC Conduit Entry Location
Inside the ARCCOM

690.12 (C) Facilities with Rapid Shutdown
• NEC 690.12 (C) states: PV system circuits installed on or in buildings shall include
a rapid shutdown function that controls specific conductors in accordance with
690.12(1) through (5) as follows:
(1) Requirements for controlled conductors shall apply only to PV system conductors of more than
1.5m (5 ft) in length inside a building , or more than 3m (10 ft) from a PV array.
(2) Controlled Conductors shall be limited to not more than 30V and 240 volt-amperes within 10
seconds of rapid shutdown initiation.
(3) Voltage and power shall be measured between any conductor and ground
 No shorting out or free-floating the array to achieve 30V
(4) The rapid shutdown initiation methods shall be labeled in accordance with 690.56(B)
 Provide a placard with the prescribed phrasing
(5) Equipment that performs the rapid shutdown shall be listed and identified.
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 Achieved by Inverter/ ARCCOM placement
 Achieved by Inverter Shutdown or DC Contactors in the ARCCOM
 TL Inverters and ARCCOM are listed

690.56 Identification of Power Sources
(C) Facilities with Rapid Shutdown Buildings or
structures with both utility service and a PV
system complying with 690.12 shall have a
permanent plaque or directory including the
following wording:
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH
RAPID SHUTDOWN
The plaque or directory shall be reflective, with
letters capitalized and having a minimum height of
9.5mm (3/8 in.), in white on red background.
Where do you put this?
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What is an arc-fault?
Current
• Healthy Wire
• The same amount of current must flow through a smaller
conductor
• Conductor heats up and eventually melts
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Current
Current
• Air Ionizes and plasma allows current to flow across the gap
• Temperatures can reach 15000 degrees Fahrenheit

690.11 ARC-Fault Circuit Protection
(Direct Current)
• Photovoltaic Systems with dc source circuits, dc output circuits, or both, operating
at a PV system maximum system voltage of 80 volts or greater, shall be protected by
a listed (dc) arc-fault circuit interrupter, PV type, or other system components listed to
provide equivalent protection. The PV arc-fault protection means shall comply with
the following requirements:
(1) The system shall detect and interrupt arcing faults resulting from a failure in the intended
continuity of a conductor, connection, module, or other system component in the dc PV source
and dc PV output circuits.
(2) The system shall require that the disabled or disconnected equipment be manually restarted.
(3) The system shall have an annunciator that provides a visual indication that the circuit
interrupter has operated. This indication shall not reset automatically.
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Arc-Fault Detection
 Detection based on telltale frequency characteristics
 Inverters generate noise in the same range
 UL 1699B
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Source- Implementing Arc Detection in Solar Applications
Brett Novak, Texas Instruments

Maximize SNR to Minimize Nuisance
Tripping
• NEC 690.11 requires manual reset
• Every arc-fault trip requires a truck roll
• ARCCOM has undergone 1 year of product
compatibility testing to minimize nuisance
tripping.
• Single sensor, reflection based technology
is significantly more prone to nuisance
tripping and more costly to maintain
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String Level
Detection

What does this mean for the end user?
• String level detection board identifies
problem string down to 1 of 4
possible strings with a LED indicator
light
• Provides faster troubleshooting of
system after a fault
• Simplified isolation of damaged
portion of array
• Faster recovery time > increased
overall production while repairs take
place
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690.11 ARC-Fault Circuit Protection
(Direct Current)
• Photovoltaic Systems with dc source circuits, dc output circuits, or both, operating
at a PV system maximum system voltage of 80 volts or greater, shall be protected by
a listed (dc) arc-fault circuit interrupter, PV type, or other system components listed to
provide equivalent protection. The PV arc-fault protection means shall comply with
the following requirements:
(1) The system shall detect and interrupt arcing faults resulting from a failure in the intended
continuity of a conductor, connection, module, or other system component in the dc PV source
and dc PV output circuits.
(2) The system shall require that the disabled or disconnected equipment be manually restarted.
(3) The system shall have an annunciator that provides a visual indication that the circuit
interrupter has operated. This indication shall not reset automatically.
www.solectria.com
 ARCCOM is listed to UL1699B
 ARCCOM must be manually restarted
 ARCCOM includes audible buzzer, LEDs, and auxilary contact

System Design Considerations for
ARCCOM
• The ARCCOM only requires power to
operate and has no communication with the
inverters at all.
• 24Vdc power can come from an external
power supply or from optional 100V-277V to 24V
power supply. (most common approach)
• 120VAC can have significant voltage drop
(20V from nominal) before optional power
supply will not work. Greater design flexibility.
• 277VAC can drop all the way to 100VAC and
still work! Smaller conductors necessary to
power ARCCOM
• Rapid shutdown disconnect placement
should be coordinated with first responders.
Best to avoid another Dietz & Watson
• Sub array level monitoring will remotely alert
you through alarms in the event of an arc fault
condition.
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Rapid shutdown arc fault presentation SPI 2014

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