PD IEC TS 63157:2019 - Photovoltaic Systems: Guidelines for Effective Quality Assurance of Power Conversion Equipment

In the rapidly evolving world of renewable energy, ensuring the quality and reliability of photovoltaic systems is paramount. The PD IEC TS 63157:2019 standard provides comprehensive guidelines for effective quality assurance of power conversion equipment, a critical component in photovoltaic systems. Released on December 9, 2019, this standard is an essential resource for professionals in the solar energy sector, offering a structured approach to maintaining high standards in power conversion technology.

Key Features of PD IEC TS 63157:2019

• Standard Number: PD IEC TS 63157:2019
• Pages: 38
• Release Date: December 9, 2019
• ISBN: 978 0 580 51695 5
• Status: Standard

Why Quality Assurance in Photovoltaic Systems Matters

As the demand for clean energy solutions grows, the reliability and efficiency of photovoltaic systems become increasingly important. Power conversion equipment, which includes inverters and other critical components, plays a vital role in converting solar energy into usable electrical power. Ensuring the quality of these components is crucial for maximizing energy output, reducing downtime, and extending the lifespan of solar installations.

Comprehensive Guidelines for Quality Assurance

The PD IEC TS 63157:2019 standard offers a detailed framework for implementing quality assurance measures in the manufacturing and maintenance of power conversion equipment. It covers various aspects, including:

• Design and Development: Guidelines for designing power conversion equipment that meets high-quality standards and performance criteria.
• Manufacturing Processes: Best practices for manufacturing processes to ensure consistency and reliability in production.
• Testing and Validation: Procedures for rigorous testing and validation to verify the performance and safety of power conversion equipment.
• Maintenance and Monitoring: Strategies for ongoing maintenance and monitoring to sustain equipment performance over time.

Benefits of Implementing PD IEC TS 63157:2019

Adopting the guidelines outlined in PD IEC TS 63157:2019 can lead to numerous benefits for manufacturers, installers, and end-users of photovoltaic systems:

• Enhanced Reliability: By adhering to quality assurance protocols, the reliability of power conversion equipment is significantly improved, reducing the risk of failures and costly repairs.
• Increased Efficiency: High-quality components ensure optimal energy conversion, maximizing the efficiency of solar power systems.
• Extended Lifespan: Proper quality assurance practices contribute to the longevity of power conversion equipment, providing long-term value and return on investment.
• Compliance and Certification: Meeting the standards set by PD IEC TS 63157:2019 can facilitate compliance with industry regulations and certification requirements.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The PD IEC TS 63157:2019 standard is designed for a wide range of stakeholders in the photovoltaic industry, including:

• Manufacturers: Companies involved in the production of power conversion equipment can use this standard to enhance their quality assurance processes.
• Installers: Solar system installers can benefit from understanding the quality standards to ensure they are using reliable components.
• Quality Assurance Professionals: Experts responsible for maintaining quality standards in solar energy projects will find this standard invaluable.
• Regulatory Bodies: Organizations involved in setting and enforcing industry standards can use this document as a reference for best practices.

Conclusion

The PD IEC TS 63157:2019 standard is an indispensable tool for anyone involved in the photovoltaic industry. By providing clear and actionable guidelines for quality assurance, it helps ensure that power conversion equipment meets the highest standards of reliability and performance. Whether you are a manufacturer, installer, or quality assurance professional, this standard offers the insights and guidance needed to excel in the rapidly growing field of solar energy.

PD IEC TS 63157:2019

This standard PD IEC TS 63157:2019 Photovoltaic systems. Guidelines for effective quality assurance of power conversion equipment is classified in these ICS categories:

• 27.160 Solar energy engineering

This document lays out recommendations for best practices for product realization, safety, customer satisfaction, and stakeholders' relationship used in the manufacture of power conversion equipment (PCE).

This document captures key requirements customers would like to see completed to ensure high-quality products, specifically, that the products have the documented properties, including properties needed to give customer satisfaction with regard to the warranty.

The object of this document is to provide more confidence in the ongoing consistency of performance and reliability of certified power conversion equipment. The requirements of this document are defined with the assumption that the quality management system of the organization has already fulfilled the requirements of ISO 9001 or equivalent quality management system. These guidelines also form the basis for factory audit criteria of such sites by various certifying and auditory bodies.

This document covers manufacture of electronic power conversion equipment intended for use in terrestrial PV applications. The term PCE refers to equipment and components for electronic power conversion of electric power into another kind of electric power with respect to voltage, current and frequency. This document applies to PCE in both indoor and outdoor open-air climates as defined in IEC 60721-2-1 and IEC 60721-3-3. Such equipment may include, but is not limited to, DC-to-AC inverters, DC-to-DC converters and battery charge converters.

This document covers PCE that is used with PV arrays. The equipment may also be connected to other DC source or load circuits such as batteries. All parts of the PCE are included (e.g. connectors and software). This document may be used for accessories for use with PCE, except where more appropriate standards exist.

The object of this document is to define steps for providing assurance that:

• The customers’ expectations are identified and the product is designed to meet those expectations,

• The performance characteristics and method of meeting the customers’ expectations (e.g. efficiency) are identified,

• The specifications are either in conformance with the related standards or mentioned by the manufacturer on the data sheet or other product literature,

• The product has each of the properties described on the data sheet or other product literature, and

• The product has been designed and manufactured to retain those same properties after normal and reasonable environmental stresses experienced in the field (including worstcase typical temperatures, thermal cycling, corrosive conditions, over voltages/currents on DC and AC lines, transportation and installation, etc.) as well as survive stresses coming from the grid within the promise of the warranty.

To achieve these goals, this document requires:

• Analysis to identify potential failure modes and creation of a plan to prevent these during the time of the design lifetime,

• A documented change management control process to address raw material or manufacturing changes arising both internal and external to the organization,

• A documented supplier quality management process with integrated performance standards that uses continuous improvement to enhance overall product quality,

• A documented manufacturing process with workmanship standards that uses continuous improvement to enhance product quality,

• A documented manufacturing process that includes steps that identify when the process has gone out of control and high-level measures to follow to bring the process back in control as specified by an out-of-control action plan (OCAP). This includes measurements that ensure that the products have the defined properties including test results expected for certification, standards and warranty, and

• Testing of software to ensure that it works in the anticipated situations.