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Advanced Sensing Technologies in Photovoltaic Systems
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Advanced Sensing Technologies in Photovoltaic Systems

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Electronic Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2022) | Viewed by 12004

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Manuel Fuentes Conde

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IDEA Research Group, Electronics and Automation Engineering Department, High Polytechnic School of Linares, University of Jaén Campus Científico-Tecnológico, Avd. Universidad s/n, D-113 23700 Jaén, Spain
Interests: low-cost systems for monitoring; measurement devices for PV; development of hybrid solar photovoltaic devices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the fast evolution of renewable energies and, particularly, of the solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has led to a proliferation of PV installations throughout the world, mainly due to their successful interconnection to the grid, its competitive price, and its efficiency improvement. PV generation systems present challenges but also offer new opportunities related to their electronic components and their applications.

The field of PV sensors and their applications requires monitoring processes in real time and in any location, possibly at a low cost. The application of Internet of Things (IoT) can promote the use of this type of sensors. The greatest challenge is to develop PV sensors with enhanced performance so to enable their widespread penetration.

The scope of this Special Issue is to highlight recent advances in materials for sensors, as well as in concepts, development, testing, and modeling of sensors based on or applied to photovoltaics. Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • PV Sensors development and analysis
  • IoT–PV sensors and applications
  • Smart PV sensors
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Clean energy monitoring
  • Advanced PV sensor characterization

Prof. Dr. Manuel Fuentes Conde
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • PV sensors
  • Self-powering sensors
  • Calibration PV sensors
  • IoT solar applications
  • Accurate and precision analysis
  • Smart PV sensors

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4801 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Uncertainty of Surface Temperature Measurements in Photovoltaic Modules in Outdoor Operation
by Carmen García-López and Germán Álvarez-Tey
Sensors 2022, 22(15), 5685; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22155685 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1754
Abstract
Faults in photovoltaic modules in operation can lead to power losses. By determining the module surface temperature, hot spots that can potentially cause this power loss can be detected. Temperature measurement by radiation allows a complete, reliable, and fast qualitative determination of hot [...] Read more.
Faults in photovoltaic modules in operation can lead to power losses. By determining the module surface temperature, hot spots that can potentially cause this power loss can be detected. Temperature measurement by radiation allows a complete, reliable, and fast qualitative determination of hot spots on PV modules in outdoor operation. However, to obtain quantitative values, it is necessary to consider multiple factors: emissivity, reflected radiation, wind speed, intensity, shading, etc. Temperature quantitative measurement evaluation by contact is more studied, although by this technique it is impossible to examine the temperature of the entire module to detect hot spots because it is a point measurement and due to shading caused by the measurement probe on the surface. In this work, a method of temperature measurement by radiation is described, evaluating the uncertainty components, and a comparison is made with temperature measurement by contact on the module rear side points where module heating has been detected, also evaluating the uncertainty components. This comparison of both methods and uncertainty determination allows establishing a methodology in quantitative temperature measurement by radiation in photovoltaic modules in outdoor operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Sensing Technologies in Photovoltaic Systems)
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17 pages, 904 KiB  
Article
Smart Sensorization Using Propositional Dynamic Logic
by Salvador Merino, Alfredo Burrieza, Francisco Guzman and Javier Martinez
Sensors 2022, 22(10), 3899; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22103899 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1764
Abstract
The current high energy prices pose a serious challenge, especially in the domestic economy. In this respect, one of the main problems is obtaining domestic hot water. For this reason, this article develops a heating system applied to a conventional water tank in [...] Read more.
The current high energy prices pose a serious challenge, especially in the domestic economy. In this respect, one of the main problems is obtaining domestic hot water. For this reason, this article develops a heating system applied to a conventional water tank in such a way as to minimize the necessary energy supply by converting it, under certain circumstances, into atmospheric. For this purpose, the domotic system has been equipped with sensors that automate the pressurization of the compartment and solenoid valves that regulate the external water supply. This design, to which different level sensors are applied, sends the information in real time to an artificial intelligence system, by means of deductive control, which recognizes the states of the system. This work shows the introduction of an extension of propositional dynamic logic in the field of energy efficiency. Thanks to this formalism, a qualitative control of the program variables is achieved by incorporating qualitative reasoning tools. On the other hand, it solves preventive maintenance systems through the early detection of faults in the installation. This research has led to the patenting of an intelligent domestic hot water system that considerably reduces energy consumption by setting disjointed heating intervals that, powered by renewable or non-renewable sources, are controlled by a propositional dynamic logic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Sensing Technologies in Photovoltaic Systems)
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18 pages, 1597 KiB  
Article
Maximum Power Point Tracking-Based Model Predictive Control for Photovoltaic Systems: Investigation and New Perspective
by Mostafa Ahmed, Ibrahim Harbi, Ralph Kennel, José Rodríguez and Mohamed Abdelrahem
Sensors 2022, 22(8), 3069; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22083069 - 16 Apr 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2815
Abstract
In this paper, a comparative review for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques based on model predictive control (MPC) is presented in the first part. Generally, the implementation methods of MPPT-based MPC can be categorized into the fixed switching technique and the variable [...] Read more.
In this paper, a comparative review for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques based on model predictive control (MPC) is presented in the first part. Generally, the implementation methods of MPPT-based MPC can be categorized into the fixed switching technique and the variable switching one. On one side, the fixed switching method uses a digital observer for the photovoltaic (PV) model to predict the optimal control parameter (voltage or current). Later, this parameter is compared with the measured value, and a proportional–integral (PI) controller is employed to get the duty cycle command. On the other side, the variable switching algorithm relies on the discrete-time model of the utilized converter to generate the switching signal without the need for modulators. In this regard, new perspectives are inspired by the MPC technique to implement both methods (fixed and variable switching), where a simple procedure is used to eliminate the PI controller in the fixed switching method. Furthermore, a direct realization technique for the variable switching method is suggested, in which the discretization of the converter’s model is not required. This, in turn, simplifies the application of MPPT-based MPC to other converters. Furthermore, a reduced sensor count is accomplished. All conventional and proposed methods are compared using experimental results under different static and dynamic operating conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Sensing Technologies in Photovoltaic Systems)
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18 pages, 6174 KiB  
Article
Design and Test of a High-Performance Wireless Sensor Network for Irradiance Monitoring
by Manuel Jesús Espinosa-Gavira, Agustín Agüera-Pérez, José María Sierra-Fernández, Juan José González de-la-Rosa, José Carlos Palomares-Salas and Olivia Florencias-Oliveros
Sensors 2022, 22(8), 2928; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22082928 - 11 Apr 2022
Viewed by 2141
Abstract
Cloud-induced photovoltaic variability can affect grid stability and power quality, especially in electricity systems with high penetration levels. The availability of irradiance field forecasts in the scale of seconds and meters is fundamental for an adequate control of photovoltaic systems in order to [...] Read more.
Cloud-induced photovoltaic variability can affect grid stability and power quality, especially in electricity systems with high penetration levels. The availability of irradiance field forecasts in the scale of seconds and meters is fundamental for an adequate control of photovoltaic systems in order to minimize their impact on distribution networks. Irradiance sensor networks have proved to be efficient tools for supporting these forecasts, but the costs of monitoring systems with the required specifications are economically justified only for large plants and research purposes. This study deals with the design and test of a wireless irradiance sensor network as an adaptable operational solution for photovoltaic systems capable of meeting the measurement specifications necessary for capturing the clouds passage. The network was based on WiFi, comprised 16 pyranometers, and proved to be stable at sampling periods up to 25 ms, providing detailed spatial representations of the irradiance field and its evolution. As a result, the developed network was capable of achieving comparable specifications to research wired irradiance monitoring network with the advantages in costs and flexibility of the wireless technology, thus constituting a valuable tool for supporting nowcasting systems for photovoltaic management and control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Sensing Technologies in Photovoltaic Systems)
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20 pages, 2332 KiB  
Article
A Control Process for Active Solar-Tracking Systems for Photovoltaic Technology and the Circuit Layout Necessary for the Implementation of the Method
by Henrik Zsiborács, Gábor Pintér, András Vincze and Nóra Hegedűsné Baranyai
Sensors 2022, 22(7), 2564; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22072564 - 27 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2561
Abstract
What basically determines how much energy is generated by a photovoltaic (PV) system is the amount of solar irradiation that is absorbed by its PV modules. One of the technical solutions to boost this quantity, and thusly also maximize the return on PV [...] Read more.
What basically determines how much energy is generated by a photovoltaic (PV) system is the amount of solar irradiation that is absorbed by its PV modules. One of the technical solutions to boost this quantity, and thusly also maximize the return on PV investments, is solar tracking, which makes the following of the sun on its daily and annual journey in the sky possible and also takes changes in cloud conditions into consideration. The solar-tracking solutions that PV systems are most frequently equipped with deploy active sensor technologies, while passive ones are less common in present-day practice. However, even the popular solutions of today have their limitations. Their active sensor-tracking algorithms leave room for improvement for at least three major reasons, as they do not prevent the unnecessary operation of the motors in cloudy weather, they do not make the modules assume an appropriate position after nightfall, and they do not make sure that the structure and the electronics of the PV systems are protected from rain and the strong winds in the event of storms. This paper introduces a new active sensor-tracking algorithm, which has not only been tested but it is also in the process of patenting (patent ID: p2100209). By their contribution, the authors endeavor to propose a solution that can solve all three of the issues mentioned above. The concept is based on two fundamental findings. According to the first one, periodic movement can not only considerably decrease motor movement but also increase system lifetime, while the second one simply suggests that moving the modules into an almost horizontal position facing the equator at low light levels is conducive to the prevention of damages caused by storms and fast reaction to the increase in the amount of light at daybreak. A positive feature of the new system for PV power plant operators is that it performs the tracking of the sun practically without any decrease in power compared to the focal point position, since it works with an average inaccuracy of 1.9°. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Sensing Technologies in Photovoltaic Systems)
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