Detection and control of power loss due to soiling and faults in photovoltaic solar farms via wireless sensor network

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) farm output power is highly related to the panel conditions. Soiling causes faults in the PV panels leading to a dras-tic reduction in the system efficiency. In vast solar PV farms, the detection of faults in an individual PV panel is a difficult task since it is usually done manually. In this research, a new design is proposed to detect the production of individual PV panel automatically and periodically to evaluate the condition of each panel in the farm no matter how it is connected in the array. The proposed design allows the user to measure the open circuit voltage (VOC), the short circuit current (ISC) and the delivered power for each PV panel in the farm. It is also capable of controlling each panel to work at the maximum power point using a built in Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) sub-circuit on each solar panel. The presented system depicts a complete wireless sensor network, which does not need any extra wiring and is character-ized by being of low cost, reliable and efficient.

A Low-Cost Solar Farm Monitoring System Based on Cloud Database

“…Parameters of PV panels are given in datasheet supplied by the manufacturer. The datasheet provides characteristics of PV panel such as short circuit current and open circuit voltage and standard test conditions and other design characteristics (Abid, Abid, Obed, & Al-Naima, 2018). The standard test conditions are irradiance equals to 1000W/m 2 and temperature equals to 25°C.…”

Solar energy manager with PSOC5LP

“…The parameters previous showed permits the design of the different conditioners required for the measure of the voltage signals with the programmable device PSoC5LP, also permits establish fail conditions in the different stages of the system. The ADC module with 12 bits resolution is one of the principal PSoC5LP benefits, however as all the family of microcontrollers only can work in the voltage window of TTL levels, this is the principal reason for use of signals conditioners with the function of adapt the signal to the work window [11]. For this case in particular was necessary the design of three signal conditioners for control and measure voltage in the different stages in the generation system.…”

Robotic dry cleaner for photovoltaic solar panels: an implemented design that evaluated in iraq's weather

“…Soiling is described as the dirt accumulation on the solar panel modules. It is a critical loss factor, mainly when there are arid conditions, scarce rain, and even frequent dust or sand storms [2]. Two independent parameters, the local environment and the dust properties, which consist of shape, component, weight, and size [3], affect the characteristics of soiling accumulation on solar panels.…”