Frequency Response Analysis to Monitor and Identify Changes in the Impedance of a Photovoltaic Panel Measured Online using a Power Optimizer

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are generally modeled as a current source due to photocurrent, p-n junction diodes with parasitic resistance, capacitance, and inductance. This paper proposes online frequency response analysis (FRA) to measure the impedance of a PV panel using an existing panel-level power optimizer in a PV system. The algorithm will actively perturb a small signal into a 300 W rooftop PV panel and compute its small signal impedance. The technology discussed is easy to incorporate, requires no additional hardware, doesn't alter the stability of the system, and is implemented at a steady-state point. The power optimizer initially stabilizes at an operating point and then perturbs the PV current via FRA and computes PV panel impedance. The relative standard deviation test conducted indoors under 300 W/m ² illumination on a PV panel shows a less than 5% error rate in PV panel impedance magnitude and phase is measured using a power optimizer.