IoT-based wireless data acquisition and control system for photovoltaic module performance analysis

Abstract

The development of photovoltaic (PV) technology has led to an increasing demand for efficient and reliable monitoring systems that can ensure the optimal performance of PV modules. In particular, remote monitoring systems are critical for PV systems installed in distant locations where manual monitoring is difficult and expensive. In this article, we introduce a low-cost wireless monitoring system that employs NodeMCU boards, Raspberry Pi, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to monitor and analyze the operational and environmental data of PV modules. By using free and open-source software packages including MQTT Mosquitto Broker, InfluxDB, Node-RED, and Grafana, the system can collect, store, and visualize data, offering an effective means of studying a PV system performance from anywhere. The proposed system is found to work efficiently under different testing conditions; providing precise measurements for different parameters, including voltage, current, power, ambient temperature, humidity, panel temperature, PV coolant temperature at inlet and outlet, and spectral irradiance. In addition to the data collected by the set of sensors, the system provides another source of environmental data using a web-based service called "OpenWeatherMap" that provides a complete global forecast. Alerts and thresholds have been successfully implemented in our system, providing an added advantage of being able to detect and respond to any anomalies in the collected data. Furthermore, the system provides two operational controls: wireless ON/OFF control and wireless control of a servo motor which can be utilized in various applications improving overall system performance.