Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic Plant

With photovoltaic (PV) systems proliferating in the last few years due to the high prices of fossil fuels and pollution issues, among others, it is extremely important to monitor the efficiency of these plants and optimize the energy production process. This will also result in improvements related...

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Main Authors: Miguel J. Prieto, Alberto M. Pernía, Fernando Nuño, Juan Díaz, Pedro J. Villegas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-01-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/14/2/2379
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author Miguel J. Prieto
Alberto M. Pernía
Fernando Nuño
Juan Díaz
Pedro J. Villegas
author_facet Miguel J. Prieto
Alberto M. Pernía
Fernando Nuño
Juan Díaz
Pedro J. Villegas
author_sort Miguel J. Prieto
collection DOAJ
description With photovoltaic (PV) systems proliferating in the last few years due to the high prices of fossil fuels and pollution issues, among others, it is extremely important to monitor the efficiency of these plants and optimize the energy production process. This will also result in improvements related to the maintenance and security of the installation. In order to do so, the main parameters in the plant must be continuously monitored so that the appropriate actions can be carried out. This monitoring should not only be carried out at a global level, but also at panel-level, so that a better understanding of what is actually happening in the PV plant can be obtained. This paper presents a system based on a wireless sensor network (WSN) that includes all the components required for such monitoring as well as a power supply obtaining the energy required by the sensors from the photovoltaic panels. The system proposed succeeds in identifying all the nodes in the network and provides real-time monitoring while tracking efficiency, features, failures and weaknesses from a single cell up to the whole infrastructure. Thus, the decision-making process is simplified, which contributes to reducing failures, wastes and, consequently, costs.
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spelling doaj.art-073cbc9b405b41ec87c33de195f1d6a72022-12-22T02:57:13ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202014-01-011422379239610.3390/s140202379s140202379Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic PlantMiguel J. Prieto0Alberto M. Pernía1Fernando Nuño2Juan Díaz3Pedro J. Villegas4Área de Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Departamental No. 3. Campus Universitario, 33203 Gijón, SpainÁrea de Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Departamental No. 3. Campus Universitario, 33203 Gijón, SpainÁrea de Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Departamental No. 3. Campus Universitario, 33203 Gijón, SpainÁrea de Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Departamental No. 3. Campus Universitario, 33203 Gijón, SpainÁrea de Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio Departamental No. 3. Campus Universitario, 33203 Gijón, SpainWith photovoltaic (PV) systems proliferating in the last few years due to the high prices of fossil fuels and pollution issues, among others, it is extremely important to monitor the efficiency of these plants and optimize the energy production process. This will also result in improvements related to the maintenance and security of the installation. In order to do so, the main parameters in the plant must be continuously monitored so that the appropriate actions can be carried out. This monitoring should not only be carried out at a global level, but also at panel-level, so that a better understanding of what is actually happening in the PV plant can be obtained. This paper presents a system based on a wireless sensor network (WSN) that includes all the components required for such monitoring as well as a power supply obtaining the energy required by the sensors from the photovoltaic panels. The system proposed succeeds in identifying all the nodes in the network and provides real-time monitoring while tracking efficiency, features, failures and weaknesses from a single cell up to the whole infrastructure. Thus, the decision-making process is simplified, which contributes to reducing failures, wastes and, consequently, costs.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/14/2/2379photovoltaic power systemsenergy storagesupercapacitorswireless sensor networks
spellingShingle Miguel J. Prieto
Alberto M. Pernía
Fernando Nuño
Juan Díaz
Pedro J. Villegas
Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic Plant
Sensors
photovoltaic power systems
energy storage
supercapacitors
wireless sensor networks
title Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic Plant
title_full Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic Plant
title_fullStr Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic Plant
title_full_unstemmed Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic Plant
title_short Development of a Wireless Sensor Network for Individual Monitoring of Panels in a Photovoltaic Plant
title_sort development of a wireless sensor network for individual monitoring of panels in a photovoltaic plant
topic photovoltaic power systems
energy storage
supercapacitors
wireless sensor networks
url http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/14/2/2379
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