STEP7 is the basic software package for configuring and programming of S7 300 and S7 400 programmable logic controller. It is part of the SIMATIC software industry.WinCC Flexible is a software compatible with the STEP7 environment, it offers the configuration of various operator panels and SCADA system, moreover creating the graphical interface (HMI) and the variables means being able to read the process values via the PLC, display them so that the operator can supervise, control and adjust them.The implementation of an automation solution with STEP7 requires the realization of following basic tasks: 1. Creation of the SIMATIC STEP7 project 2. Hardware (HW) configuration Figure 1presents the picture of SIMATIC STEP7 project (PV system). The picture of the hardware part is illustrated in Fig. 2.
Photovoltaic energy is a possible response to the challenges of the energy transition of tomorrow. For proper operation, the solar photovoltaic system needs a rigorous supervision of its electrical and physical parameters. Monitoring is one of the foundations of photovoltaic maintenance engineering.
Scalability: the size of the plants is very variable as it is possible to create a PV installation with a few solar panels for self-consumption or a large plant with hundreds of MW of installed power. A PV monitoring solution must adapt to these use cases without over-sizing.
Is there an IoT solution for photovoltaic plants monitoring?
Usage of tools Eclipse Kura and Eclipse Kapua. Validated possible devices and the independence from the hardware of the solution. Creation of unique system based on Open Source, IoT technology and industrial devices. In the present work, the authors propose an IoT solution for photovoltaic plants monitoring based entirely on Open Source software.
Why is photovoltaic energy important?
Nowadays, the world production of photovoltaic (PV) energy increases every year due to the environmental benefits and the advantages it provides to the energy industry when compared with the rest of the renewable sources, : low maintenance and simple production.
How to monitor a PV plant?
To perform an efficient monitoring, the PV plant must be provided not only with a well calibrated equipment, but also a set of auxiliary devices. Such auxiliary systems must integrate with measuring components and get the most of them. Both systems would compose the SCADA of the plant.
How can infrared data be used to monitor photovoltaic production?
Advanced image analysis on infrared data of electrical substations allows the monitoring of its condition and decreases maintenance costs. Remote monitoring of photovoltaic production can be used to provide a unified architecture to integrate multiple PV plants .