Some experimentations developed in the energy field.

NR.1 – Power optimisers

EXPERIMENTATION OBJECTIVES

Measure over medium-long term the benefits introduced by the optimisers (boosters) Black Magic in real working conditions of a photovoltaic plant designed and realised with the attentional demand for the development of a permanent testing park.

EXPERIMENTATION METHODS

Generally, the applied method is to activate and install technology in a way to measure the minimum achievable benefit in real working conditions.
Inside the field that underwent intelligent control, 4 twin strings were identified to be placed under experimentation.

EXPERIMENTATION FIELD CHARACTERISTICS:

  • TOTAL FIELD POWER: 62,56 kWp
  • INVERTER: Electronic Santerno SunwayTG82 800V
  • PANELS: Trina – Yes-polycrystalline – 230 W with -3% +3% tolerance
  • DIRECTION : SOUTH with 30° TILT
  • N. STRINGS: 16
  • N. MODULES PER STRING: 17
  • N. EXPERIMENTATION STRINGS : 4

PHASE 1: IDENTIFICATION OF 4 EXPERIMENTATION STRINGS

From monitoring the string data (V,I) gathered form the connection date of the plant, 4 strings were identified with similar behaviours (average current variation lower than 0.5%).

PHASE 2: IDENTIFICATION OF 2 TWIN STRINGS

PERIOD: Dal 26.11.201 al 14.12.201
Of the 4 strings from phase 1, the two strings with the most similar behaviour, hence twin strings, were identified (average current variation lower than 0.10%).

PHASE 3: INSTALLATION AND MONITORING

PERIOD: From 01.01.2011 to 13.06.2012
On the 2 twin strings identified in PHASE 2, the Black Magic Power Unit (BMPU) was installed. In particular, on one string (called passive), the Black Magic Power Unit was installed in just to measure currents and voltage with (consumption is present), so as to monitor panel/panel also on the comparison string, on each of the 17 modules and on the string (called active) the Black Magic Power Unit (BMPU) was installed in the active version for each of the 17 modules (*). The active/passive strings were connected rto two Black Magic String Managers. This configuration allowed the comparison to be made between

  • Active string (red)
  • Passive string (blue)
  • Average string (yellow) :that is, the string obtained as the average of the currents supplied by the 2 experimentation strings not solicited by BMUM.

The measurements were made considering the same voltage for all the strings tested as they are connected to a single centralised inverter.

Prosumer

From Consumer to Prosumer: consumer become protagonist in the management of energy flows