Configurable IoT Open-Source Hardware and Software I-V Curve Tracer for Photovoltaic Generators

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy Systems
• Electrical Engineering
• Internet of Things (IoT)

Background:

• Photovoltaic (PV) energy integration into smart grids necessitates accurate module characterization.
• Current-voltage (I-V) curve tracing is crucial for monitoring PV module behavior and performance.
• Internet of Things (IoT) offers advanced solutions for data acquisition in PV systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel, automated IoT-based system for photovoltaic I-V curve tracing.
• To leverage open-source hardware and software for cost-effective and versatile PV monitoring.
• To demonstrate the system's capability in real-world operating conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Raspberry Pi microcomputer for the hardware architecture.
• Implemented a software stack including MariaDB, Python, and Grafana for data management and visualization.
• Automated load sweep, data acquisition, storage, communication, and real-time display.
• Integrated modern and legacy communication protocols for seamless interaction with control systems.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and tested an automated IoT system for PV I-V curve tracing.
• Experimental validation confirmed the system's suitability and accuracy under real operating conditions.
• Demonstrated real-time visualization and data handling capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The proposed IoT-based system provides an effective and automated solution for PV module characterization.
• Open-source technologies enable the creation of versatile and accessible PV monitoring tools.
• The system is suitable for monitoring monocrystalline PV generators in practical applications.