Module to module monitoring system, M3S, a new strategy for PV-system monitoring

A new system for PV-plant monitoring is presented. The system allows the fault detection in each module of a PV plant. For that, electronic circuits are connected in parallel with each PV module sensing voltages around all the components. An extra current generator can modify slightly the current in one string introducing current in parallel to a selected module. A simple and efficient module model, not physically linked, allows the detection of a fault in each module obtaining the real output power, their availability power in its maximum power point and the estimated power in the case of an adequate running of each module. The system has been designed in terms of simplicity, easy implementation and low cost, not having extra irradiance or temperature sensors.