Implementation and Evaluation of a 3.3 kWp IoT-Based Photovoltaic Microgrid-Interactive Configuration

Abstract

Recently, PV grid integrated power generation has been intensively promoted, involving monitoring systems and inverters. Thus, two important issues are monitoring parameters and inverter efficiency. Therefore, this research used an IoT-based monitoring and recording system for the implementation and evaluation of a 3.3 kWp PV microgrid-interactive configuration integrated into a nominal 220-volt network. This network comprises a hybrid inverter, protection modules, an IoT-based monitoring facility, and four batteries. New ideas include more monitoring parameters, including statistical analyses and sorting power flow-based inverter efficiencies, as well as additional solar module scenarios for economic analysis. The results showed that the estimated generated and actual generated energies within 40 days were 596.60 kWh and 550.00 kWh, respectively. The total load consumed, grid exported and imported energies, battery charge, and discharge energies were 263.30 kWh, 278.30 kWh, 7.70 kWh, 45.20 kWh, and 38.70 kWh, respectively. The CF, PR, and system efficiency were 17.36%, 84.8%, and 12.73%, respectively, in the performance analysis. The typical inverter efficiencies were 98.03%, 98.03%, 93.81%, 98.01%, 98.05%, and 91.67% for the six power flow categories. According to the first scenario of additional solar modules, the PI, IRR, NPV, PBP, and COE were 2.1, 5.46%, US 348.66, 11.7 years, and US cent 10.28/kWh, respectively. The typical temperatures were 47°C, 31°C, and 25°C for the inverter, radiator, and battery, respectively. The PV-supplied power was the highest, while the battery-supplied power was the lowest. The radiator temperature was highly correlated with the PV voltage, PV current, PV power, inverter current, and inverter power.