Real-Time Data Acquisition of Solar Panel Using Arduino

Use of a simple instrumentation method (based on Arduino and Excel) to acquire, monitor and store PV system data in real-time.

Mar 25, 2020

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Components and supplies

Rhéostat 330 Ohms

INA169 Analog DC Current Sensor

Arduino UNO

TDC-M20-36 PV panel

B25 0 to 25V Voltage Sensor Module

Tools and machines

PLX-DAQ

Apps and platforms

Arduino IDE

Project description

Code

Real-time data acquisition of solar panel using Arduino and Excel

arduino

The program code embedded in the Arduino UNO board, which allows to acquire the measured data of PV panel from sensors and send it to a PLX-DAQ Spreadsheet, is presented as follows

1/*****************************************************************************
2         Aboubakr El Hammoumi
3*****************************************************************************/
4
5/******************************************************************************
6   PROJECT :  Instrumentation of PV panel characteristics
7   Function : Real-time  data acquisition of solar panel using Arduino and Excel
8 ******************************************************************************
9  *                                                                            *
10    Written by  :  Aboubakr El Hammoumi                    Date : 04/05/2018
11  *                                                                            *
12    Email : aboubakr.elhammoumi@usmba.ac.ma
13 ******************************************************************************
14
15
16/*initialization  function*/
17
18void setup() {
19//serial connection setup
20//opens serial  port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
21Serial.begin(9600);
22//clear all data that’s  been place in already
23Serial.println("CLEARDATA");
24//define the column headings  (PLX-DAQ command)
25Serial.println("LABEL,t,voltage,current,power");
26}
27/*the  main code*/
28void loop() {
29//measuring voltage using "B25 0 to 25V" Voltage  Sensor
30//measuring current using "INA169" Current Sensor
31//reading of the  current and voltage from sensors
32float voltage = analogRead(A0)*5*5.0/1023;     //PV  panel voltage
33float current = analogRead(A1)*5.0/1023;     //PV panel current
34float  power = voltage*current;               //PV panel power
35
36//allows the serial  port to send data to Excel in real-time
37Serial.print("DATA,TIME,"); // PLX-DAQ  command
38Serial.print(voltage);    //send the voltage to serial port
39Serial.print(",");
40Serial.print(current);    //send the current to serial port
41Serial.print(",");
42Serial.println(power);  //send the power to serial port
43delay(1000); //wait 1s before repeating
44}
45

/*****************************************************************************
         Aboubakr El Hammoumi
*****************************************************************************/

/******************************************************************************
   PROJECT :  Instrumentation of PV panel characteristics
   Function : Real-time  data acquisition of solar panel using Arduino and Excel
 ******************************************************************************
  *                                                                            *
    Written by  :  Aboubakr El Hammoumi                    Date : 04/05/2018
  *                                                                            *
    Email : aboubakr.elhammoumi@usmba.ac.ma
 ******************************************************************************


/*initialization  function*/

void setup() {
//serial connection setup
//opens serial  port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
Serial.begin(9600);
//clear all data that’s  been place in already
Serial.println("CLEARDATA");
//define the column headings  (PLX-DAQ command)
Serial.println("LABEL,t,voltage,current,power");
}
/*the  main code*/
void loop() {
//measuring voltage using "B25 0 to 25V" Voltage  Sensor
//measuring current using "INA169" Current Sensor
//reading of the  current and voltage from sensors
float voltage = analogRead(A0)*5*5.0/1023;     //PV  panel voltage
float current = analogRead(A1)*5.0/1023;     //PV panel current
float  power = voltage*current;               //PV panel power

//allows the serial  port to send data to Excel in real-time
Serial.print("DATA,TIME,"); // PLX-DAQ  command
Serial.print(voltage);    //send the voltage to serial port
Serial.print(",");
Serial.print(current);    //send the current to serial port
Serial.print(",");
Serial.println(power);  //send the power to serial port
delay(1000); //wait 1s before repeating
}

Real-time data acquisition of solar panel using Arduino and Excel

arduino

The program code embedded in the Arduino UNO board, which allows to acquire the measured data of PV panel from sensors and send it to a PLX-DAQ Spreadsheet, is presented as follows

1/*****************************************************************************
2          Aboubakr El Hammoumi
3*****************************************************************************/
4
5/******************************************************************************
6    PROJECT :  Instrumentation of PV panel characteristics
7   Function : Real-time   data acquisition of solar panel using Arduino and Excel
8 ******************************************************************************
9   *                                                                            *
10     Written by  :  Aboubakr El Hammoumi                    Date : 04/05/2018
11   *                                                                            *
12     Email : aboubakr.elhammoumi@usmba.ac.ma
13 ******************************************************************************
14
15
16/*initialization   function*/
17
18void setup() {
19//serial connection setup
20//opens serial   port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
21Serial.begin(9600);
22//clear all data that’s   been place in already
23Serial.println("CLEARDATA");
24//define the column headings   (PLX-DAQ command)
25Serial.println("LABEL,t,voltage,current,power");
26}
27/*the   main code*/
28void loop() {
29//measuring voltage using "B25 0 to 25V" Voltage   Sensor
30//measuring current using "INA169" Current Sensor
31//reading of the   current and voltage from sensors
32float voltage = analogRead(A0)*5*5.0/1023;     //PV   panel voltage
33float current = analogRead(A1)*5.0/1023;     //PV panel current
34float   power = voltage*current;               //PV panel power
35
36//allows the serial   port to send data to Excel in real-time
37Serial.print("DATA,TIME,"); // PLX-DAQ   command
38Serial.print(voltage);    //send the voltage to serial port
39Serial.print(",");
40Serial.print(current);     //send the current to serial port
41Serial.print(",");
42Serial.println(power);   //send the power to serial port
43delay(1000); //wait 1s before repeating
44}
45

/*****************************************************************************
          Aboubakr El Hammoumi
*****************************************************************************/

/******************************************************************************
    PROJECT :  Instrumentation of PV panel characteristics
   Function : Real-time   data acquisition of solar panel using Arduino and Excel
 ******************************************************************************
   *                                                                            *
     Written by  :  Aboubakr El Hammoumi                    Date : 04/05/2018
   *                                                                            *
     Email : aboubakr.elhammoumi@usmba.ac.ma
 ******************************************************************************


/*initialization   function*/

void setup() {
//serial connection setup
//opens serial   port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
Serial.begin(9600);
//clear all data that’s   been place in already
Serial.println("CLEARDATA");
//define the column headings   (PLX-DAQ command)
Serial.println("LABEL,t,voltage,current,power");
}
/*the   main code*/
void loop() {
//measuring voltage using "B25 0 to 25V" Voltage   Sensor
//measuring current using "INA169" Current Sensor
//reading of the   current and voltage from sensors
float voltage = analogRead(A0)*5*5.0/1023;     //PV   panel voltage
float current = analogRead(A1)*5.0/1023;     //PV panel current
float   power = voltage*current;               //PV panel power

//allows the serial   port to send data to Excel in real-time
Serial.print("DATA,TIME,"); // PLX-DAQ   command
Serial.print(voltage);    //send the voltage to serial port
Serial.print(",");
Serial.print(current);     //send the current to serial port
Serial.print(",");
Serial.println(power);   //send the power to serial port
delay(1000); //wait 1s before repeating
}

Downloadable files

Experimental setup of the virtual instrumentation system

The microcontroller of Arduino board gets the PV panel output voltage and current which are measured by sensors and then computes the output power. Once the Arduino board is connected to the computer through a USB cable, we launch the PLX-DAQ Excel Macro and by defining in the PLX-DAQ window after its display, the serial port where Arduino board is connected to the computer, and the Baud rate (9600 bit/sec). Note that the Baud rate defined in PLX-DAQ window must be the same as that used in the program code embedded in Arduino board. Thereafter, after clicking on "connect" the output data will be collected and displayed in real-time on the Excel Spreadsheet. The light intensity is driven by varying manually a variable resistance between 0 and 330 Ω (to trace the I-V and P-V characteristics). A pyranometer is also used to measure the light radiation (if needed!). The microcontroller is programmed to measure successively in each second the PV current, voltage and power.

Experimental setup of the virtual instrumentation system

Experimental Results (c)

The results of a monitoring test for current, voltage and power of PV panel are presented in the Figure below. From the experimental results, it can be seen that the PV panel produced a maximum power of 17.07 W at "15h14min02s" when a voltage of 14.15 V and a current of 1.20 A appear. Subsequently, the output power is tends to a minimum value 822.2 mW when there is a voltage of 18.23 V and a current of 45.1 mA. Hence, as the present system is used such as a virtual instrument to acquire the PV panel characteristics under the real operation conditions, it can also be used on field periodical monitoring activities for PV systems.

Experimental Results (c)

Experimental Results (b)

The results of a test similar to the previous one are shown in the Figure below, while the difference relates to the time step between each measurement, decreasing the step size from 1 s to only 100 ms. As shown in this Figure, oscillations have appeared on the I-V and P-V curves due to the inaccuracy of data obtained by the instrument system but with small extent. However, a small step size leads to obtain a big sample of measurements, and hence give us too many significant results. As a result, a compromise between small and large step size is needed. Generally, if you would like to note precise changes in the PV characteristics, then it is recommended to use a smaller step size. If you are not concerned about the precise changes and would like to run the instrument system faster, use a large step size.

Experimental Results (b)

Schematic view of the hardware components connected to the Arduino UNO

The voltage sensor is put in parallel with the load. While the current sensor module is put in series between the positive side of the PV panel and that of the load.

Schematic view of the hardware components connected to the Arduino UNO

PLX-DAQ Spreadsheet window

The PLX-DAQ Excel Macro is used for data acquisition from the Arduino microcontroller to an Excel Spreadsheet. We only need to download it. After installation, a folder named "PLX-DAQ" will automatically be created on the PC in which a shortcut named "PLX-DAQ Spreadsheet" is inside. Then, to establish the communication between the board and Excel, we just need to open the Spreadsheet and defining the connections settings (Baud rate and port) in the PLX-DAQ window.

PLX-DAQ Spreadsheet window

Experimental Results (b)

Schematic view of the hardware components connected to the Arduino UNO

The voltage sensor is put in parallel with the load. While the current sensor module is put in series between the positive side of the PV panel and that of the load.

Schematic view of the hardware components connected to the Arduino UNO

Experimental Results (c)

PLX-DAQ Spreadsheet window

Experimental Results (a)

The I-V and P-V characteristics of the PV panel obtained by our virtual instrumentation are presented in the Figure below.

Experimental Results (a)

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