This article describes the design and the realization of an automatic recording device for measurements and controls of multiple physical parameters, in order to manage and monitor a mini central photovoltaic (PV) electricity. It is based on an 8-bit microcontroller, a PIC16F716, which is the lowest cost in the midrange portfolio from Microchip. The automatic recording device (or datalogger) measures the following parameters: the current sourced by a set of PV panels to solar batteries, the voltage across these batteries, the internal and the external temperatures, through a 4 channel multiplexed 8-bit analog–digital converter (ADC) integrated module. This datalogger is clocked with a real time clock and calendar (RTCC), which controls also the periodic measurements. These are stored in an external 8 kB flash electrically erasable/programable read-only memory (EEPROM), a 24LC64, using the I2C protocol, which allows us to easily increase the storage capacity by adding, if necessary, in parallel, up to eight external flash EEPROM.
Issue Section:
Technical Brief
References
1.
Zweibel
, K.
, 1990
, Harnessing Solar Power the Photovoltaics Challenge
, Plenum Publishing
, New York
.2.
Brower
, M.
, 1990
, Cool Energy The Renewable Solution to Global Warming. Union of Concerned Scientists
, MIT Press
, Cambridge, MA
.3.
Blaesser
, G.
, 1997
, “PV System Measurements and Monitoring: The European Experience
,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells
, 47
(1–4
), pp. 167
–176
.10.1016/S0927-0248(97)80008-64.
Wilshaw
, A.
, Pearsall
, N.
, and Hill
, R.
, 1997
, “Installation and Operation of the First City Center PV Monitoring Station in the United Kingdom
,” Sol. Energy
, 59
(1–3
), pp. 19
–26
.10.1016/S0038-092X(96)00123-55.
Kim
, M.
, and Hwang
, E.
, 1997
, “Monitoring the Battery Status for Photovoltaic Systems
,” J. Power. Sources
, 64
(1–2
), pp. 193
–196
.10.1016/S0378-7753(96)02521-96.
Ross
, J. N.
, Markvart
, T.
, and He
, W.
, 2000
, “Modelling Battery Charge Regulation for a Stand-Alonephotovoltaic System
,” Sol. Energy
, 69
(3
), pp. 181
–190
.10.1016/S0038-092X(00)00079-77.
Dakkaka
, M.
, and Hasana
, A.
, 2012
, “A Charge Controller Based on Microcontroller in Stand-alone Photovoltaic Systems
,” Energy Procedia
, 19
, pp. 87
–90
.10.1016/j.egypro.2012.05.1878.
Eke
, R.
, Kavasoglu
, A. S.
, and Kavasoglu
, N.
, 2012
, “Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Multi-Channel Temperature Measurement System for Photovoltaic Modules
,” Measurement
, 45
(6
), pp. 1499
–1509
.10.1016/j.measurement.2012.02.0299.
Masheleni
, H.
, and Carelse
, X. F.
, 1997
, “Microcontroller-Based Charge Controller for Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems
,” Sol. Energy
, 61
(4
), pp. 225
–230
.10.1016/S0038-092X(97)00055-810.
Carmine
, A.
, 1999
, Advanced Assembler Language and MVS Interfaces: For IBM Systems and Application Programmers
, 2nd ed., Wiley
, New York
.11.
Ameur
, S.
, Laghrouche
, M.
, and Adane
, A.
, 2001
, “Monitoring a Greenhouse Using a Microcontroller-Based Meteorological Data Acquisition System
,” Renewable Energy
, 24
(1
), pp. 19
–30
.10.1016/S0960-1481(00)00181-612.
Benabadji
, N.
, 2007
, “Microcontroller Drives LCD With Just One Wire
,” EDN
, 52
, pp. 104
–105
.13.
Koutroulis
, E.
, and Kalaitzakis
, K.
, 2003
, “Development of an Integrated Data-Acquisition System for Renewable Energy Sources Systems Monitoring
,” Renewable Energy
, 28
(1
), pp. 139
–152
.10.1016/S0960-1481(01)00197-514.
Muñoz
, F. J.
, Jiménez
, G.
, Fuentes
, M.
, and Aguilar
, J. D.
, 2013
, “Power Gain and Daily Improvement Factor in Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems With Maximum Power Point Tracking Charge Regulators. Case of Study: South of Spain
,” ASME J. Sol. Energy Eng.
135
(4
), p. 041011
.10.1115/1.402520515.
Messikh
, L.
, Chikhi
, S.
, Chikhi
, F.
, and Chergui
, T.
, 2008
, “Mise au point d'un régulateur de charge/décharge de batterie avec seuils adaptatifs de tension pour les applications photovoltaïques
,” Rev. Energ. Renouv.
, 11
(2
), pp. 281
–290
(in French). Available at: http://www.cder.dz/download/Art11-2_12.pdf16.
Benghanem
, M.
, 2009
, “Low Cost Management for Photovoltaic Systems in Isolated Site With New IV Characterization Model Proposed
,” Energy Convers. Manage.
, 50
(3
), pp. 748
–755
.10.1016/j.enconman.2008.09.04817.
Gagliarducci
, M.
, Lampasi
, D. A.
, and Podesta
, L.
, 2007
, “GSM Based Monitoring and Control of Photovoltaic Power Generation
,” Measurement
, 40
(3
), pp. 314
–321
.10.1016/j.measurement.2006.05.01818.
Mahjoubi
, A.
, Mechlouch
, R. F.
, and BenBrahim
, A.
, 2011
, “A Low Cost Wireless Data Acquisition System for a Remote Photovoltaic (pv) Water Pumping System
,” Energies
, 4
(1
), pp. 68
–89
.10.3390/en401006819.
Mukaro
, R.
, and Carelse
, X, F.
, 1999
, “A Microcontroller-Based Data Acquisition System for Solar Radiation and Environmental Monitoring
,” IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas.
, 48
(6
), pp. 1232
–1238
.10.1109/19.81614220.
Jucá
, C. S.
, Carvalho
, C. M.
, and Brito
, T.
, 2011
, “A Low Cost Concept for Data Acquisition Systems Applied to Decentralized Renewable Energy Plants
,” Sensors
, 11
(1
), pp. 743
–756
.10.3390/s11010074321.
Chin
, C. S.
, Babu
, A.
, and McBride
, W.
, 2011
, “Design modeling and Testing of a Standalone Single Axis Active Solar Tracker Using matlab/simulink
,” Renewable Energy
, 36
(11
), pp. 3075
–3090
.10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.02622.
Benghanem
, M.
, 2010
, “A Low Cost Wireless Data Acquisition System for Weather Station Monitoring
,” Renewable Energy
, 35
(4
), pp. 862
–872
.10.1016/j.renene.2009.08.024Copyright © 2015 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.
