Student research opportunities
3G PV Inverter Data Logger
Project Code: CECS_794
This project is available at the following levels:
CS single semester, Engn4200, Engn R&D
Please note that this project is only for undergraduate students.
Keywords:
Signal Processing, Arduino, Mobile, 3G, Wireless Communications, Programming, Solar Energy, Inverters
Supervisor:
Mr Nicholas EngererOutline:
This project will create a stand-alone unit that can accept, interpret, store and transmit data output from a household photovoltaic (PV) inverter system over the 3G mobile network. The project will consist of three major steps, as follows.
1. The device will be created using the Arduino open-source electronics prototyping platform (http://arduino.cc). The unit will consist of a processing unit, a 3G antenna and SIM card, a communications unit, and SD data storage. The student will be required to assemble a functional unit capable of receiving, logging and transmitting data. A prototyped design is available, but the student will be free to develop a new one.
2. The new piece of hardware must then be programmed through the Arduino programming language to be able to log input data (via serial RS485/242, possibly also Bluetooth or RJ45 ethernet) with timestamps, store the data to an SD card and then transmit the data over 3G to a central server.
3. Using one of the numerous of open source projects available (PVbeancounter, sma-bluetooth, etc), the student will then be required to program the unit to accept input data from an SMA inverter (and if possible, other common inverters).
Goals of this project
The aim of this project is to develop a stand-alone device that logs data from household PV inverters, in order to provide real-time monitoring of these systems. This will be done in support of a ANU/NICTA collaboration to use machine learning and computer vision to provide short term forecasts of the power output from collectives of PV systems. Live monitoring of these systems is currently only available through either a) expensive smart metering or b) residents voluntarily uploading data via a device such as the Sunny Web Box. However, both are complicated, expensive and limited in their applications. By developing a stand alone, ‘plug and play’ 3G data logger, a large number of PV arrays could be sampled very cheaply and the devices deployed quickly.
Requirements/Prerequisites
Strong computer programming skills in at least one programming language, with at least minor experience with additional languages is required (needed for programming in Arduino and interpreting pre-existing code segments). The student must be confident in operating within the Linux/Unix environment. Additionally, hands-on engineering/hardware development experience would be useful. Prior experience with solar energy technologies, specifically inverter technologies would be helpful, but is not required.
Student Gain
The student will benefit by enhancing their knowledge in a rapidly expanding technological field, develop important computer programming skills in an important open-source technological framework, gain experience being an innovator, and potentially being a co-inventor of a widely used new technology.
Links
http://arduino.ccArduino Programming Language
PV Bean Counter
SMA Bluetooth
NICTA Machine Learning
