Solar Power Project Development One week training course certified by NISE Solar Plant Operation and Maintenance, Performance monitoring Organizers Firstgreen Consulting Pvt Ltd MNIT Jaipur
Agenda Plant control systems and monitoring System description and infrastructure requirement for monitoring system Plant security system 2
Plant monitoring system Control & Telecommunication Systems: Introduction Monitoring of plant malfunction and health of eavry device in the plant Remote monitoring allows to monitor data from a remote location Monitoring of solar plant can enhance your plant yield significantly The plant owner can monitor the plant performance ratio in real time 3
On-site weather stations Control & Telecommunication Systems: Introduction To measure the plane of array irradiance, module temperature and preferably horizontal global irradiance, humidity and wind speed. This is the option of preference for many current utility scale Pv power plants. It allows data to be collected and compared remotely with yield figures on a daily basis for immediate fault detection. Transfor mers Photovoltai c Combining Switchgear Substatio n Gen Tieline Power Grid
Monitoring plant daily operational parameters Control & Telecommunication Systems: Introduction The performance management (either onsite or remote) of the Pv power plant enables the tracking of inverters or strings. Flagging any element of the power plant that falls outside pre-determined performance bands. Failure or error messages can be automatically generated and sent to the power plant service team via fax, email or text message. The generation of yield reports detailing individual component performance, and benchmarking the reports against those of other components or locations. Transfor mers Photovoltai c Combining Switchgear Substatio n Gen Tieline Power Grid
Forecasting the plant performance Control & Telecommunication Systems: Introduction Solar plants are non dispatchable, however in case of merchant power plants, the generation schedules needs to be forecasted for next 24 hours. There are commercial algorithms available for plant data forecasting, which takes in to consideration of parameters such as WMS data, plant tilt angles, plant available capacity, and other operational aspects of the plant. Transfor mers Photovoltai c Combining Switchgear Substatio n The generation of yield reports detailing individual component performance, and benchmarking Gen the Tieline reports against those of other components or locations. Power Grid
Designing a reliable monitoring system Monitoring System Monitoring system Wired type are more reliable Monitoring system with wireless technology may lead to data interference Some of the generidc parameters are already monitored in the equipments such as inverters, and energy meters. Customised algorithms are required for specific plant monitoring and creating benchmarks There is also a need to have knowledgebase to interpret the plant data Transfor mers Photovoltai c Combining Switchgear Substatio n Gen Tieline Power Grid 7
Major PV parameters Facility main elements of the solar plant to be monitored Element Parameters Incidences Panels String current Irradiance Module malfunctioning Isolating error Inverter Instant power Produced energy CO 2 Emissions Electronic failure (low performance) Electric failure (stop) Meter Produced kwh Load profile Meter stop Transformer grid Phase voltage Frequency grid out of range 8
Other elements within a PV facility Other elements within a PV facility Element Parameter Alerts / Warnings Calibrated cell Radiation Low production, when high radiation Meteo Station Wind speed Temperature High wind speed Current sensors Current Voltage Overvoltage System breakdown Protections State (ON / OFF) Trigger 9
Monitoring Monitoring System System..Topology Sensors Communications Control Room Alarms Inverter Datalogger RS232/485 Ethernet Options: 1. Design - Wire - Wireless 2. Logic - Without logic: Converter Server 1.Data gathering 2.Data Analysis 3.Alert generation 4.Internet communication 5.Logs 1. Locals: Siren 2. SMS 3. E-mail Internet 1. BBDD 2. Web Meter - With logic: 3. Tunnel RS232/485 Datalogger Display Visualization 1. VPN 2. VNC 10
Monitoring System: Routine Monitoring system: Routine Data gathering & Analysis Performance: average or higher than average Performance: lightly lower than average Parameter analysis Performance: lower than average Failure diagnosis Alarm Actions/Modifications on the system - In situ or by Remote control Include modifications in preventive maintenance - Report generation - Corrective maintenance order Correct Incidences & parameters log 11
Remote control system. Basic topology Remote control system. Basic topology ON/OFF switches for system reclosing (i.e. in case of breakdown) REMOTE PC Tracker Control INTERNET Monitoring System Gateway Server Security system 12
Remote control system. Advanced topology Remote control system. Advanced topology An advanced remote control system requires larger bandwidth and robustness PC REMOTO Tracker - Updates - Modifications - Configurations INTERNET Gateway Server Monitoring system - Updates - Modifications - Configuration - New meters & inverters Security System - Updates - Modifications - Configuration 13
Communications Communications Internal communications Data transference between devices, dataloggers, Server & Gateway. Topology: Wireless: Bluetooth, wifi, GSM/GPRS/UMTS, etc.. Wired: RS232, RS485, Ethernet, Optical Fiber, etc.. Converters usage: Moxa, etc.. External communications To communicate remotely Topologies: RTB, ADSL, Satellite, GSM/GPRS/UMTS Redundancy & robustness 14
Remote Remote Meter Meter Reading (From (From the the electrical company) The electrical company remote meter reading, which is already being done in some countries, as Spain, allows the electrical company (or the grid manager): Avoid having dedicated staff to read the meter locally for invoicing Receiving data from the meters, that well processed, can improve the grid performance GSM Modem Modem GSM RS232/485 Meter BUS Server Gateway Gateway Conversor Ethernet RS232/485 Meter BUS Electrical company Generator * In the future PLC communications could be applied 15
Usual Usual problems problems Using the same system in different facilities A system that works perfectly for a solar facility, may not work properly in a different one due to different devices, SW versions, communication buses, countries, etc.. Solutions compatibility Mixing commercial solutions from different manufacturers may produce system malfunctions due to devices response times, transference times, bandwidths, etc.. Many solutions are still under development. Coverage failure Isolated areas. Without Telephone Network (PSTN), ADSL, UMTS or GPRS coverage Losing the communication channel would mean losing 90% of the system features 16
Operation Operation orientated monitoring Example: Valdecarábanos Solar Plant. Spain 17
Remote control system Remote control system Used to remotely control the devices in the plant Devices: Inverter, suntracker, protections, monitoring system, security system NEVER the meters Reasons: 1. Save costs. 2. Legal requirement: Requirement from the Electric Company: remote control of the isolation cells (of the transformer) Depending on each country regulations, the PV plants over a certain output power could be obliged to be attached to a generation control center It will usually be linked with the monitoring system 23 18
Data sending for maintenance Data sending for maintenance Maintenance types Corrective: to solve an incidence Preventive: to prevent a possible incidence, before it happens. Elements to maintain Inverter Suntracker Panels (maintenance is required to a lesser extent): cleaning up, replacement 19
Inverter maintenance Inverter maintenance Failure classification: According to its seriousness: Warning: minor failures. Many warnings can be expected. Generally, not important Alarm: serious failures. They should be minimized. They are important, and could imply the plant stop According to its origin: Internal: from the inverter External: from the plant. DC side: from the panels to the inverter. AC side: from the inverter to the grid 20
Inverter maintenance Inverter maintenance Usual incidences: Isolation failure (cable without enough protection) External failure: from the plant. Low DC Voltage: External failure: AC side problem (in the modules array) MPP Tracking failure External failure: a wrong configuration could produce a deviation from the MPPT Internal failure: Programming/Firmware problem Grid voltage or frequency out of range External failure: from the inverter to the grid Temperature limit 21
Suntracking maintenance Suntracking maintenance Orientation/Position failure To check if it is synchronized or not In case of strong wind, to check if it is in protection state or not Motor overvoltage failure. Reducer breakdown Limiting movement sensor Overpass the end charging sensors without activating the stop signal 22
Security in the plant: Introduction Security in the plant: Introduction Reasons: Expensive elements: inverters, panels, cable, etc Many thefts To avoid production losses (there are insurances which cover these losses) Isolated areas Long unattended periods (unless local staff is employed) Great communication problems The perfect solution does not exist. But the best would be the combination of: Local staff Remote security systems 23
Security in the plant: Possibilities Security in the plant: Possibilities The possible security systems could be: Local staff Video surveillance system (CCTV) Perimeter sensors Panel sewing String controllers Infrared / Microwave controllers The security systems keep evolving as the thieves develop new techniques 24
Security in the Plan: General scheme Security in the Plan: General scheme Solar plant security system Real time internet access Domo video camera ADSL / GPRS Control room Real time mobile phone access Acoustic & Luminous waning Video analysis. Intrusion detection Night mode video cameras Optical Fiber Local authorities warning system Source: PYSEC Seguridad 25
INDEX Control & Telecommunication system Control system components & infrastructures Control system gathered data management Plant security Security systems 32 26
Local staff (In the plant) Local staff (In the plant) Advantage Very dissuasive solution Drawbacks The most expensive solution (in the Long Term) It may reduce the plant profitability Options Employees Outsourcing The optimal solution would be Local Staff & Video surveillance 27
Video surveillance system Video surveillance system CCTV vs IP CCTV Closed TV Circuit It requires dedicated transmission buses IP - based Versatility Good quality Good transmission Less wiring Recommended: IP System 28
Video Video Surveillance System: elements elements Digital Video Recorder (Encoder/Decoder) D1 Real Time Quality Great storage capacity D1 Quality Optional: Alarms & relays management Remote control - Full D1 video is 720x480. - Cropped D1 is 704x480. - Half D1 video is 352x480 Video analyzer Using specialized software Expensive Movement detection 29
Video Video Surveillance System: elements elements Video camera They can be IP or analogical Quality: Up to D1 (Real time) Long distance(several Km*) Optical Zoom: 60x Infrared Long distance Night viewing (when the risk is higher) Range: 1.5Km (0.00001 lux). PTZ Control Automatic or Manual orientation & zoom control (Joystick). * According to specs, up to 15 km. 30
Anti Intrusion systems Anti Intrusion systems Perimeter sensor system Best solution: optical fiber system Passive system: immune to storms or el ectrical systems False alarms discrimination Alarm if the fiber is cut Alarm if a movement is detected Options: At the wall. More vulnerable Buried. More expensive (trench) Movement/Passage areas Temperature range: -30º to 75º Rubber tube Metallic tube 31
Anti-intrusion Anti-intrusionsystem Presence sensor Detects: Infrared: thermal energy variations Microwaves: movements Configurable: Alarm only if double detection Problems in foggy areas Alarm if any detection False alarms 32
Anti-theft Anti-theft system system Panel sewing (with optical fiber) Attached to every panel (at the backside) Alarm if the fiber is cut Difficult execution Temperature range: -30º a +75º Another option could be a conductive wire system Depending on the wire impedance Immune to sabotage 33
Anti-theft Anti-theft system system String Controller Both for monitoring and security systems During the days It controls the power (Current/Voltage) on the panel strings It protects the plant with integrated fuses During the night It detects if the electrical cable is cut/broken Even if there is no voltage or current This is quite a new system 34
Alarm Alarm management Local alarm: Siren, Lighting, Speakers Dissuasive Study the inputs Local staff: SMS, E-Mail, Phone call To control, or to warn the authorities Warning the authorities: Private entity or the public authorities Siren -Plant visibility -Distance to the security entity -Etc. Two options: -Dissuasive: to avoid being stolen - To try to catch the thief We have to consider the distance from the authorities to the plant 35
Other possibilities Other possibilities Virtual patrols Nowadays, a possibility that can mean an important saving in physical surveillance is the called "virtual patrol The virtual patrol simulates an ordinary guard patrol, but it is done from a remote central of the surveillance company using a system of video cameras Security for rooftop facilities Usually, for this type of projects, no surveillance system is installed but the ones already used by the clients, as this facilities are normally located in urban zones. If the facility is located in an isolated area and the roof is not very high or difficult to access, it is recommended to apply one of the security systems described within this presentation It is also recommended to have the all risk insurance in force. 36
Thank You FirstGreen Consulting Private Limited Gurgaon: MA 74, Gurgaon 122002, India Tel.: (+91) 124 4650224, 9899295854 Web: www.firstgreen.co Email: sanjay@firstgreen.co 37