Operation and Maintenance

For the optimal operation of a PV plant, maintenance must be carried out on a regular basis. All the components should be kept clean. It should be ensured that all the components are fastened well at their due place.

Panacean Enterprise undertakes Operation and maintenance of several solar plants for its clients. With increasing emphasis on solar power by the Govt. of India our experience in O&M of solar plants is very valuable.

Services provided by Panacean for O&M

Inspection & Monitoring

Our O&M Team Visit Solar plant at regular time interval and note down points in I&M Sheets as Per the points corrective action to be taken as soon as possible.

Defect Checking

A visual inspection of the modules is done periodically to look for possible defects such as cracks, chips, de-lamination, fogged glazing, water leaks and discoloration. If any obvious defects are found, their location is noted down in the system logbook so that they can be monitored for generation output. If the damage causes the modules to perform lower than the rated value, they should be replaced.

Structure Stability

Solar module mounting frames are examined to make certain that the frames and modules are firmly secured, and mounting bolts are rust free. Junction boxes are inspected to ensure that the wires are not chewed by rodents or insects.

Operation & Maintenance

After inspection our team rectify solution and comes up with different services which are mentioned below.

Solar Panel

  • The panels are cleaned at least once every fifteen days.
  • Check Solar panel and structure for any damage and repair/replacement if required.
  • Inspect for hot spot & by pass diodes failure and take the corrective action accordingly.
  • Grass cutting should be done in regular time intervals. (In Case of Ground Mounted).
  • Ensure roof drainage is adequate, roof drains are not clogged and confirm that there are no signs of water pooling near the array. (In Case of Roof top Solar System)

CABLES AND CONNECTION BOXES

  • Check the connections for corrosion and tightness.
  • Check the connection box to make sure that the wires are tight, and the water seals are not damaged.
  • There should be no vermin inside the box.
  • Check the cable insulating sheath for cracks, breaks or burns. If the insulation is damaged, replace the wire.
  • If the wire is outside the building, use wire with weather-resistant insulation.
  • Make sure that the wire is clamped properly and that it should not rub against any sharp edges or corners.
  • If some wire needs to be changed, make sure it is of proper rating and type.

Inverter

  • Remove any excess dust in heat sinks and ventilations. This should only be done with a dry cloth or brush.
  • Inverter is Showing error or not if it is showing corrective action must be taken by our team.
  • Check that vermin have not infested the inverter. Typical signs of this include spider webs on ventilation grills or wasps’ nests in heat sinks.
  • Check functionality, e.g. automatic disconnection upon loss of grid power supply, at least once a month.
  • Verify the state of DC/AC surge arrestors, cable connections, and circuit breakers.

Transformer (If Applicable)

  • For transformers at the site with installed capacity in megawatts, parameters such as the operating temperature, OTI (oil temperature), WTI (winding temperature), and oil level are monitored daily.
  • If there is any internal disturbance in the transformer, it reflects in these parameters which are monitored at least three times in a day (at 11 AM, 02 PM and 04 PM as solar power is generated at its peak during these slots).
  • The transformer has to be cleaned thoroughly once in six months.
  • Panacean conducts IR test and cable yearly to check the transformer performance.

Remote Monitoring

  • A solar power plant constantly needs to be monitored to detect breakdowns and optimize its operation.
  • The same function could be performed either on-site or remotely wherein we retrieve all the data either from the inverter or from communicating equipment (probes, meters etc.).

Thermal Inspection

  • The thermographic inspection of PV modules usually indicates potential defects at the cell and module level or electrical interconnection issues.
  • The inspections can be carried out when Solar Power plant is in operating condition and do not require a system shut down.
  • Thermal imaging cameras are primarily used for capturing abnormalities in the form of heat and does not detect faults. It records data which we must carry out analysis for further conclusions.