Development of a data logger for use in a photovoltaic monitoring system / Desenvolvimento de um registrador de dados para uso em um sistema de monitoramento fotovoltaico

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a data logger used in a photovoltaic monitoring system, whose purpose is to store time series data for subsequent analyses. By accurately monitoring electrical and meteorological parameters after installation of a photovoltaic power plant, the electrical generation performance in photovoltaic systems can be optimized. Disturbances in electrical parameters are partly caused by inaccuracy in climate variables, but also by degradation and errors in the photovoltaic system. Storing large volumes of data over a long period of time is a widespread use of data loggers, and this helps in composing a database that can provide higher quality to the photovoltaic systems and their operational analysis. The data logger developed in this study used a single-board Raspberry Pi 3 Model B computer in conjunction with specific programs and protocols. The data logger’s main software was coded using Javascript high-level programming language added to a PostgreSQL database and ModbusTCP communication library.