Electricity and Control October 2023

SAFETY OF PLANT, EQUIPMENT + PEOPLE : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Preventing short circuits and fires in solar inverters

With the growing number of solar power installations and the inverters that form part of the systems, business own ers and households need to be aware of the potential fire risk. This includes overheating or short circuits in the battery or other electrical parts that can result in an ex plosion. CEO of ASP Fire Protection Services, Michael van Niekerk, explains that solar inverters, an essential part of any solar power system, convert direct current (dc) pow er produced by solar photovoltaic panels into alternating current (ac) electricity, to power appliances and devices at home and in businesses. He highlights various factors that can cause a solar inverter to catch fire. It can simply be the naturally high temperature of the operating environment, compounded by the equipment generating heat as it inverts and trans forms high-voltage electricity into usable power. Potential short circuits can also be caused by a lack of adequate maintenance and management, improper installation, poor quality equipment, or overgrown veg etation, plant debris or even small animals and insects finding their way into equipment. Van Niekerk also points out that grid-tied solar sys tems are exposed to inrush current when grid supplied power is restored after loadshedding – and this can cause damage or fires. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to have the system designed and signed off by a registered electrical engineer. “Any failed component that short circuits can result in a fire that spreads through the inverter, causing a dom ino effect,” van Niekerk highlights. Here, automatic fire suppression is important to detect and suppress a fire quickly so the inverter is offline before the fire can spread to other components. This reduces the impact of any fire and prevents damage to other equipment and the sur rounding area. He sets out a few general recommended safety tips, as below. - Place the inverter on a reasonably flat horizontal or vertical surface. Over the years, the traditional image of a health and safety or SHEQ (Safety Health Environment and Quality) officer as a man in a safety helmet and high-visibility jacket harshly enforcing the rules has changed. And Carina Kleinhans, Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Manager at DEKRA Industrial SA – a leading company in non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection – says it continues to change as more women enter this field, which is the cornerstone of safe and responsible operations in diverse industry sectors. “The frequently negative, punitive image and reputation of safety professionals is evolving into a more positive, Women in health & safety

With the growing number of solar power installations and the inverters that form part of them, business owners need to guard against the potential fire risk. - Keep the inverter dry and do not expose it to rain or moisture. Do not operate the inverter if any surface that is wet may come in contact with any power source. Water and many other liquids can conduct electricity and lead to serious injury or death. - Avoid placing the inverter on or near heating vents, radiators or other sources of heat. Do not place the inverter in direct sunlight. - Ensure the inverter is well ventilated to allow for dispersal of the heat generated while the inverter is in operation. Maintain a clearance of a few cen timetres on the top and sides of the inverter when it is in operation. - Do not use an inverter near flammable or combus tible materials or place it in areas such as battery compartments where fumes or gases may accu mulate. “Fires happen,” says van Niekerk, “and it is therefore important to be prepared by understanding the fire risks, how to best mitigate those risk factors, and knowing how to manage a solar inverter fire.”

For more information contact ASP Fire. Tel: +27 (0)11 452 2169 Email: michael@aspfire.co.za Visit: www.aspfire.co.za

caring and proactive one. Notably, this is as women bring their own special value and skills to the role,” Kleinhans maintains. She believes that because safety is a daily, lifelong commitment, celebrating the contribution of women in safety – or in any role or sector – should not be confined to a single day or month of the year, as it is in South Africa every August. “Furthermore, the decision to appoint women to man agement or leadership positions – in safety or any other discipline – should never be gender-based, but rather hinge on the applicant’s attitude and ability,” Kleinhans adds. Continued on page 27

Carina Kleinhans, HSE Manager at DEKRA Industrial SA.

26 Electricity + Control OCTOBER 2023