A study on the effects of electromagnetic coupling mechanisms in the event of an indirect lightning strike near photovoltaic arrays

Indirect lightning strikes hitting near photovoltaic installations are much more frequent than direct hits, and can generate overvoltage in their electric circuitry. The authors developed a method to estimate the induced on single modules. Using model of whole array also including Inter-Module Coupling Mechanisms (IMCMs), new approach full arrays is presented this paper. procedure first estimates lumped parameters, modelling either coupling between channel each module or couple modules array. Several circuital simulations then run using suitable equivalent circuits. aim consider different configurations groundings schemes. This allows extracting most relevant configuration parameters influencing overvoltage/overcurrent. Results show that scheme impacts negligibly, but stress decreased by 35% case ungrounded configurations. Among considered configurations, honey-comb total cross-tied showed smallest impact overvoltage. Statistical analysis random LC tortuous geometry leads non-negligible rise peak values, up 24%. Finally, relevance IMCMs analysed, showing strong just frame-ground voltages currents.