Fire Safety Evaluation of Solar Photovoltaic Modules in Hydrocarbon Industry

Abstract

Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) modules based electric power supply systems are newlinecurrently being designed for remote unmanned oil and gas facilities where grid newlineutility power is not available within vicinity. PV modules are used in newlineapplications such as measurement of process data, telemetry, gas detection, newlinecathodic protection and lighting with voltage levels of 12V, 24V and 48V. newlineA fire can occur in a hydrocarbon facility when there is an explosive mixture of newlinefuel (gas / dust) and air and an ignition source, with sufficient energy to initiate newlineit. newlineHot spot heating is a phenomenon, occurring in PV modules, caused by faulty newlineconditions such as partial shading / material imperfection / fabrication flaws / newlinedamages etc. The extent of hot-spot heating of solar cells is closely related to newlinethe properties of the semi-conductor materials.