IEC TS 62446-3:2017
Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance - Part 3: Photovoltaic modules and plants - Outdoor infrared thermography

Standard No.

IEC TS 62446-3:2017

Release Date

2017

Published By

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

Latest

IEC TS 62446-3:2017

Replace

IEC 82/1188/DTS:2016

Scope

This part of IEC 62446 defines outdoor thermographic (infrared) inspection of PV modules and plants in operation. The inspection can include cables, contacts, fuses, switches, inverters, and batteries. This inspection supports the preventive maintenance for fire protection, the availability of the system for power production, and the inspection of the quality of the PV modules. Included in this document are the requirements for the measurement equipment, ambient conditions, inspection procedure, inspection report, personnel qualification and a matrix for thermal abnormalities as a guideline for the inspection. This document defines outdoor thermography on photovoltaic (PV) modules and Balance-of- system (BOS) components of PV power plants in operation, using passive techniques (standard system operating conditions under natural sunlight, without any external power or irradiation sources). IEC 60904-12-1 covers general methods for laboratory or production-line PV module thermographic imaging but not the specific details that are most relevant to outdoor imaging of operational power plants including BOS components. Two different levels of inspections are currently used: a) A simplified thermographic inspection. This is a limited inspection to verify that the PV modules and BOS components are functioning, with reduced requirements for the qualification of personnel. For example, during a basic commissioning of a PV plant. Authoritative conclusions regarding module quality are not possible with this inspection, and examples of abnormalities are provided to aid the inspector. b) A detailed thermographic inspection and analysis. This may include thermal signatures which differ from the examples provided, and therefore requires a deeper understanding of the thermal abnormalities. For example, it may be used for periodic inspections according to the IEC 62446 series and for trouble-shooting the cause of underperforming systems. Absolute temperature measurements may be made. An authorized expert in PV plants, together with thermography experts can perform the inspection.

IEC TS 62446-3:2017 Referenced Document

• EN 16714-3:2016 Non-destructive testing - Thermographic testing - Part 3: Terms and definitions
• EN 50110-1:2013 Operation of electrical installations - Part 1: General requirements
• IEC 60050-131:2002 International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - Part 131: Circuit theory
• IEC 60216-2:2005 Electrical insulating materials - Thermal endurance properties - Part 2: Determination of thermal endurance properties of electrical insulating materials - Choice of test criteria
• IEC 60216-5:2008 Electrical insulating materials - Thermal endurance properties - Part 5: Determination of relative thermal endurance index (RTE) of an insulating material
• IEC 60269-1:2006 Low-voltage fuses - Part 1: General requirements
• IEC 61095:2009 Electromechanical contactors for household and similar purposes
• IEC 61215-1:2016 Modules photovolta?ques (PV) pour applications terrestres – Qualification de la conception et homologation – Partie 1: Exigences d'essai (Edition 1.0)
• IEC 61439-1:2011 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Part 1: General rules
• IEC 61724-1:2017 Photovoltaic system performance - Part 1: Monitoring
• IEC 61730-1:2016 Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification - Part 1: Requirements for construction
• IEC 61730-2:2016 Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification - Part 2: Requirements for testing
• IEC 62109-1:2010 Safety of power converters for use in photovoltaic power systems - Part 1: General requirements
• IEC 62446-1:2016 Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance - Part 1: Grid connected systems - Documentation, commissioning tests and inspection
• IEC 62446-2 Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance - Part 2: Grid connected systems - Maintenance of PV systems*， 2020-03-18 Update
• IEC 62930 Electric cables for photovoltaic systems with a voltage rating of 1,5 kV DC*， 2017-12-01 Update
• ISO 9488:1999 Solar energy - Vocabulary
• ISO 9712:2012 Non-destructive testing - Qualification and certification of NDT personnel

IEC TS 62446-3:2017 history

• 2017 IEC TS 62446-3:2017 Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance - Part 3: Photovoltaic modules and plants - Outdoor infrared thermography