Diseño y prototipado de un banco de pruebas para simulación de fallas por arco eléctrico

Abstract

El crecimiento acelerado de la energía solar fotovoltaica ha incrementado la necesidad de fortalecer la seguridad en las instalaciones, especialmente en la prevención de fallas por arco eléctrico, una de las principales causas de ignición en los sistemas solares. En Guatemala, la empresa Zona Solar enfrenta la limitación de no contar con un dispositivo que permita simular de manera controlada y segura este tipo de fallas, lo que dificulta demostrar a clientes y técnicos la capacidad de los inversores Huawei para detectar y desconectar módulos defectuosos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue diseñar, prototipar y validar un banco de pruebas capaz de reproducir arcos eléctricos en condiciones representativas y seguras, con fines demostrativos, educativos y de investigación. Los resultados evidenciaron que el prototipo cumplió con los requisitos establecidos por la norma UL1699B, permitiendo generar arcos eléctricos con una separación de 0.8 mm y una duración máxima de 0.5 segundos en un entorno seguro y portátil de 13.8 kg. Se concluye que el banco de pruebas representa una herramienta innovadora para el sector fotovoltaico nacional, al ofrecer un dispositivo seguro, replicable y de bajo costo, que contribuye al fortalecimiento de la seguridad eléctrica, la formación técnica y la confianza en la energía solar.

The accelerated growth of solar photovoltaic energy has increased the need to strengthen safety measures in installations, especially in the prevention of electric arc faults, one of the main causes of ignition in solar systems. In Guatemala, the company Zona Solar faces the limitation of not having a device capable of simulating this type of fault in a controlled and safe manner, making it difficult to demonstrate to clients and technicians the capability of Huawei inverters to detect and disconnect defective modules.

The objective of this work was to design, prototype, and validate a test bench capable of reproducing electric arcs under representative and safe conditions for demonstration, educational, and research purposes. To achieve this, the engineering design process was applied, including the identification of needs through interviews and field visits, the definition of requirements based on international standards, computer-aided design, the selection of insulating and resistant materials, and fabrication using combined techniques such as 3D printing, CNC machining, and laser cutting.

The results demonstrated that the prototype complied with the requirements established by the UL1699B standard, allowing the generation of electric arcs with a separation of 0.8 mm and a maximum duration of 0.5 seconds within a safe and portable environment weighing 13.8 kg. Electronic tests confirmed the precision of the control system based on an Arduino UNO and a NEMA 17 motor, while feedback from the Zona Solar technical team validated its commercial, educational, and technical training utility.

It is concluded that the test bench represents an innovative tool for the national photovoltaic sector by offering a safe, replicable, and low-cost device that contributes to strengthening electrical safety, technical training, and confidence in solar energy.

Regarding future iterations, it is recommended to incorporate current, voltage, and temperature sensors to enable real-time data acquisition during simulations, as well as to develop a graphical interface for remote system control and monitoring. It is also suggested to expand the range of testing conditions in order to reproduce different fault scenarios and to develop training manuals and technical guides that facilitate its implementation in educational and demonstration environments, ensuring the continuity and improvement of the project.