| Work Detail |
Colombian scientists have designed a new portable electronic device to measure the IV and PV curves of photovoltaic panels in situ. The novel system takes into account solar radiation, ambient temperature, electric current and voltage signals from a photovoltaic panel via a mobile phone using a mobile application.
A research group in Colombia has developed a new portable electronic device that allows for in-situ measurements of the IV and PV curves of photovoltaic panels and that can reportedly compete with similar but more expensive and unwieldy technologies on the market.
The new tool features a dual-core 240 MHz Tensilica LX6 processor and 4 MB of storage memory. It works by collecting data on solar radiation, ambient temperature, electric current and voltage signals from photovoltaic panels via a mobile phone using a mobile application.
“The data collected, when synchronized with a server, becomes accessible from anywhere and allows for analysis using data analysis algorithms and machine learning,” the team explains. “This enables the creation of predictive models and the detection of system deficiencies by identifying individual components, such as end-of-life and poor positioning.”
For the experimental device, the researchers used an ESP32 microcontroller from the American company SparkFun Electronics. “It incorporates a WiFi module capable of connecting to mobile devices,” they explain. “It has 28 GPIO pins and is also compatible with low-energy Bluetooth connections. The versatility of the ESP32 shines when it comes to running IoT projects.”
As for sensors, the device uses an ACS712 current sensor, a voltage divider consisting of two series resistors, an NTC 10K temperature sensor, and an SP Lite2 irradiance sensor. It also uses an XL6009 switching boost module as a voltage regulator and the ADS1015 module as an analog-to-digital converter. In addition, it includes a p-type MOSFET transistor for high-frequency switching, cables, and batteries for energy storage.
“The ESP32 serves as the central device in the printed circuit board (PCB) design, where all input and output signals converge,” the scientists further explained. “Each signal has its respective filtering stage. Since the ESP32 has a maximum output of 3.3 V, it is optocoupled to transmit the signal at 7.4 V, exceeding the gate-source voltage (VGS) required for proper switching.”
According to the researchers, the system also features a housing certified to withstand IP55 standards or higher.
The performance of the portable tool was tested in two different geographical locations and for two different types of photovoltaic panels. Measurements were made at different times of the day to ensure curves were drawn in different radiations. The tests demonstrated that the proposed system can deliver results in line with those of conventional devices.
“By using low-cost components such as microcontrollers and digital signal processors (DSPs), our development of a PV performance monitor has revealed valuable economic benefits,” the academics stressed. “This approach significantly increases the cost-effectiveness and accessibility of PV systems by reducing the total expenditure required for their monitoring.”
The group calculated the cost of the experimental device and found that it could range from $1,000 to $1,200. It also said that more advanced systems in the future could even cost between $275,000 and $630,000.
Details of the system can be found in the study « Design and implementation of an autonomous device with an app to monitor the performance of photovoltaic panels », published in Energy Reports .
"The compact nature of the device allows for its expansion in future versions with new functionalities, such as the characterization of electrical production systems or the improvement of signals with electronics focused on signal processing to achieve quality certification according to established standards," the group concludes. |
