| In response to the arcing ignition at the DC terminal block of photovoltaic (PV) inverter cabinets, which leads to the burnout of key components, the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) was employed to investigate fire propagation pathways, including fire magnitude, flame spread, and smoke migration, following ignition in PV inverter cabinets. Based on the identified propagation pathways, corresponding measurement points and 2D cross-sections were established to enhance fire protection performance by optimizing detector system deployment and locating critical high-temperature nodes. The results indicate:
The heat release rate (HRR) curve of the PV inverter cabinet fire exhibits a bimodal peak, with a maximum value of 252 kW. When ignition occurs in the lower-left DC cavity, the primary fire spread routes are: from the lower-left DC cavity upward to the upper-left circuit breaker cavity, then rightward to the central control cabinet, and finally to the upper-right circuit breaker cavity. Smoke first propagates upward from the lower-left DC cavity to the ceiling near the upper-left circuit breaker, subsequently extends to the lower ceiling of the central control cabinet at the upper-right side, and then migrates to the ceiling of the rear circuit breaker chamber. Smoke detectors can rapidly sense fire initiation, with the optimal deployment position being the left side of the small fan on the ceiling of the upper-left circuit breaker cavity. Critical high-temperature nodes include: areas in front of communication cables and Fuses 1–3, the junction between upper and lower DC cavities, and the lower-right portion of the upper-left circuit breaker. |
