Smart predictive photovoltaic maintenance system

• Grant number: 20/00895-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: November 01, 2020
• End date: July 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Hajel Berteli
• Grantee: Fernando Hajel Berteli
• Company: Newsun Energy Brazil S/A
• CNAE: Geração de energia elétrica ; Serviços de engenharia ; Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: Franca
• Associated researchers: Rafael Mateus Tischer ; Wallace Correa de Oliveira Casaca
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/00770-7 - SIMPF: intelligent system of predictive maintenance photovoltaic, BP.PIPE

Abstract

This work is limited in phase 1 to study the technical, environmental, social and commercial viability of a proposal to implement a monitoring and control system of photovoltaic plants. Photovoltaic energy is extremely important in the energy scenario, as it provides for its diversification, besides generating less pollutants and environmental impacts than conventional sources. This mode of generation contemplates photovoltaic panels, which are exposed to climatic characteristics and weathered according to the environment to which they are located. The results indicate that the energy production of photovoltaic plates is reduced by 15 to 40% due to the temperature increase as well as the accumulation of atmospheric particles in the solar plates. In this context, the present project presents a proposal to collect data from a photovoltaic system automatically and intelligently, using IoT, Data Analysis and Machine Learning technologies. An automation system will be developed that captures solar plant information, electrical and climate variables, stores this data in the cloud and trains an Artificial Neural Network so that the system assists in the preventive detection of electrical faults, automatic cleaning of solar panels, reduction of plate temperature, visualization of the collected data and management of the solar plant. The current phase of the project is in exploratory and experimental research. This project originated by realizing real problems and demands of the solar mini-generation sector, whose target audience is the potential proposed solution. The development of this technology will allow NewSun greater competitiveness in the sector, as well as opening a new market for the company. (AU)