Wireless PV array communication for access to plant data

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Wireless PV array communication for

access to plant data

Justin Shade, CWNA, CWAP, CWSP

Senior Product Marketing Specialist – Wireless

Phoenix Contact USA

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Wireless PV array communication for access to plant data

Speaker Introduction

Justin Shade, CWNA, CWAP, CWSPSenior Product Marketing Specialist - Wireless

Phoenix Contact USA

▪ 15 years industrial wireless application experience

▪Hold multiple CWNP certificates

▪Contributions to NIST industrial wireless guides

▪Married, 2 children

▪Enjoy soccer, basketball, DIY home improvements

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Agenda

▪ Utility scale plant communications

▪ Wireless and PV array applications

▪ Wireless technologies for solar applications

▪ Wireless applications examples

▪ Budgetary considerations

▪ Array wireless take-a-ways

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Utility scale plant communications layout

Trenching, conduit and / or cable

hanger installation

Fiber-optic ring

• Single mode (typ)

• Ethernet

• Modbus TCP

Copper wire connection

• Signal and Power (typ)

• Serial (RS-485)

• Modbus RTU

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Wireless technologies for PV solar arrays

Through wide use in solar tracking

applications, wireless technology

has found wide acceptance in

utility scale solar installations

Self-powered solar tracke with wireless

communications

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Wireless and PV solar applications

▪ Advantages of wireless technologies include:

▪ Faster installation times

▪ No communication cabling

▪ Reducing the need for trenching, conduit and cable hangers

▪ Faster time to revenue production by partial array operation

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Wireless and PV solar applications

▪ Elimination of single of dual point failures for communications

▪ Multiple communication paths via store and forward radio technology

▪ Preventative maintenance

▪ Efficient repairs due to internal diagnostics

▪ Often the first choice for retrofits and communication upgrades

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Monitoring of PV systems

Wireless

Monitoring of

Rooftop systems

Wireless String-

Monitoring in

Ground- mounted

systems

Wireless

Monitoring of

Solar inverters

Wireless

Monitoring of

Tracking systems

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Wireless technologies for PV solar arrays

Information on Zigbee and why

frequently used for solar tracking is not

data adequate for array

communications

Technology

Frequency band,

Topology

2400/900 MHz

(Star,

Repeater)

2400 MHz

(Star, MESH)

2.4/5 GHz

(Star,MESH)

Technology FHSS DSSS OFDM

Coexistence +++ + ++

Radio data rate 16-250 kbps 250 kbps (fix) Mbps

Range 500 m/32 km < 75 m < 300 m

Latency Typ. 25 ms Typ. 100 ms < 50 ms

Energy optimized -- - -

Connection mediumRS-485/I/O RS-485 Ethernet

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Wireless technologies for PV solar arrays - ZigBee

▪ Star or MESH topologies available

▪ No Infrastructure network required

Multiple concurrent connections per

client possible

▪ Low cost/efficient energy

consumption

▪ Limitations:

▪ In large networks, latency can

get quite long

▪ Lower distances (Star topology)

▪ Quality of hardware

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Wireless technologies for PV solar arrays – WLAN

Fiber Backbone▪ Self-organizing network structure

▪ Network redundancy


Multiple concurrent connections per

client possible

▪ Mobile worker access (public standard)

▪ Limitations:

▪ 20-30 local neighbors (MESH)

▪ Lower distances (Star topology)

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Wireless technologies for PV solar arrays – Spread Spectrum

▪ Self-organizing network structure

▪ Long distance communication

▪ Network redundancy


Multiple concurrent connections per client

possible

▪ Limitations:

▪ Typically higher power consumption

▪ Can be higher cost

▪ Usually din rail mounted

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Application example: Array performance monitoring

DAS at Inverter Shelter• 6 dBi OMNI antenna

• Antenna surge protection

• Antenna height 2.5 m (typ)

• String-level current

• POA Irradiance

• Back of module

temperture

• Soiling sensors

Wireless repeater

network structure

For self-power• Array power DC/DC converter

Combiner monitoring• 2 dBi OMNI antenna

• Antenna surge protection

• Antenna height 1.5 m (typ)

Spread spectrum radio

• 900 or 2400 Mhz

• Modbus RTU

• RS-485


• 900 or 2400 Mhz

• Modbus RTU

• RS-485

Combiner box monitoring

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Application example: Array performance monitoring

Serial device

Server

Spread spectrum

radio

Modbus RTU

RS-485

Modbus TCP

Ethernet

DAS at inverter shelter

Spread spectrum

radio with I/O

Modbus RTU

RS-485

PT 100

RTD

Plane of array (POA)

Irradiance

pyronometer

Back of module

temperature

sensor(s)

Wireless mesh

network structure

Array monitoring

enclosure

Direct connection of array sensors

For self-power• Array power DC/DC converter

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Application example: 100MW PV Combiner Monitoring

100MW Bósforo Site

Typical combiner box

installation

Spread spectrum radio mounted in GRP

combiner box w/ internal antenna

External antenna mounting


mounted DAS enclosure

with external antenna

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Budgetary considerations

Wireless technologies can be capital cost friendly and result in significant

saving in installation costs

▪ Budgetary installed costs for utility scale application are typically:

▪ Direct connection of array sensors: $0.0025 / watt

▪ Combiner box monitoring: $0.0036 / watt

▪ Time to deploy wired connectivity vs wireless connectivity.

▪ Up to 50%-time savings on physical deployment

▪ Costs for wiring, conduit, cable burial, etc. must be subtracted from the

above budgetary estimated to determine actual installed costs

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Array wireless take-a-ways

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▪ Wireless is an already accepted technology in utility scale solar applications.

▪ Wireless technologies are available to handle data requirements and

geographic requirements of solar installations

▪ Array wireless can:

▪ Lower capital and installation costs

▪ Allow faster installation times and permit partial array operation

▪ Help eliminate communication failures and permit more rapid diagnostics

▪ Be friendly communication upgrades and retrofits

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Questions?

Thank You

Wireless PV array communication for

access to plant data

Wireless PV array communication for access to plant data

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