Monitoring PWM signals in stand-alone photovoltaic systems

Abstract The performance of stand-alone photovoltaic (SAPV) systems can be evaluated by monitoring them in the field using data acquisition systems (DASs). Most SAPV systems use battery charge controllers with pulse width modulation (PWM) to regulate the current into the battery. The PWM signals generated by battery charge controllers imply monitoring challenges due to the complexity of this type of signal. In this sense, the aim of this paper is to develop a new and simple monitoring technique for SAPV systems which can estimate the signals provided by a PWM battery charge controller, thus avoiding expensive DASs, simultaneous sampling and the huge amount of collected data. The estimation of PWM signal parameters, such as the duty factor (df) or high and low states, shows high accuracy, with the mean absolute percentage error lower than 1.4%, a mean relative error within 1.4%, and the coefficient of determination higher than 0.9. Furthermore, the proposed technique may easily be used for other electrical devices where PWM is employed.

[1]  Gustavo Nofuentes,et al.  A new method based on charge parameters to analyse the performance of stand-alone photovoltaic systems , 2006 .

[2]  P Balachandra,et al.  Grid-connected versus stand-alone energy systems for decentralized power—A review of literature , 2009 .

[3]  J. de la Casa,et al.  Integration of PV systems on health emergency vehicles. The FIVE project , 2004 .

[4]  Nathaniel J. Williams,et al.  Monitoring Solar Home Systems With Pulse Width Modulation Charge Control , 2011 .

[5]  A. Chaurey,et al.  Off-grid rural electrification experiences from South Asia: Status and best practices , 2011 .

[6]  Domenico Grimaldi,et al.  Distributed measurement systems , 2001 .

[7]  P. Balachandra,et al.  Universalization of access to modern energy services in Indian households—Economic and policy analysis , 2009 .

[8]  Mujahed Al-Dhaifallah,et al.  Performance of data acquisition system for monitoring PV system parameters , 2017 .

[9]  Xavier Lemaire,et al.  Fee-for-service companies for rural electrification with photovoltaic systems: The case of Zambia , 2009 .

[10]  A. Massi Pavan,et al.  Monitoring, diagnosis, and power forecasting for photovoltaic fields: A review , 2017 .

[11]  M.M. Jovanovic,et al.  LED Driver With Self-Adaptive Drive Voltage , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[12]  Manuel Fuentes,et al.  Monitoring Array Output Current and Voltage in Stand Alone Photovoltaics Systems With Pulse Width Modulated Charge Regulators , 2013 .

[13]  Andres Barrado,et al.  Review of the maximum power point tracking algorithms for stand-alone photovoltaic systems , 2006 .

[14]  B. D. Sharma,et al.  Experience with solar home systems in developing countries: a review , 2001 .

[15]  Liang-Rui Chen,et al.  A Design of an Optimal Battery Pulse Charge System by Frequency-Varied Technique , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[16]  K. Abdeladim,et al.  Contribution to the analysis of a stand-alone photovoltaic system in a desert environment , 2017 .

[17]  Manuel Fuentes,et al.  Estimation of the potential array output charge in the performance analysis of stand-alone photovoltaic systems without MPPT (Case study: Mediterranean climate) , 2009 .

[18]  M. D. Redel-Macías,et al.  Influence of constructive parameters and power signals on sound quality and airborne noise radiated by inverter-fed induction motors , 2015 .

[19]  R. Lequin,et al.  Guide to the expression of uncertainty of measurement: point/counterpoint. , 2004, Clinical chemistry.

[20]  Vijay Modi,et al.  Improving Access to Modern Energy Services: Insights from Case Studies , 2012 .

[21]  P. V. Varde,et al.  Light emitting diodes reliability review , 2012, Microelectron. Reliab..

[22]  Rajab Khalilpour,et al.  Leaving the grid: An ambition or a real choice? , 2015 .

[23]  S. Sen,et al.  Opportunities, barriers and issues with renewable energy development – A discussion , 2017 .

[24]  Eftichios Koutroulis,et al.  Development of a data acquisition system for remote monitoring of renewable energy systems , 2003 .