VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

RENEWALE ENERGY-20EE53IT
Week 6, 7 & 8

1. A company has got O & M work for a PV project, what are the
different standard operating procedure they will have to follow.

Processes involved in the maintenance of solar power systems

1. The timely and regular cleaning of solar cells and PV panels
2. Regular maintenance of all thermal-based components
3. Servicing of HT side equipment on an annual basis
4. Testing and upkeep of circuits
5. Tracing of IV curves and thermal imaging
6. Measure of earth resistance value
7. Retro-commissioning (fine-tuning )
8. Management of warranties
9. System checks pertaining to data acquisition, etc.

2. For solar plants capacity 2GW, how will you optimize operation
and maintenance process. Suggest any innovative method to
increase cleaning cycle 24 to 365, to increase operational efficiency.

The traditional method of cleaning modules uses water to wash them

manually using human labour.
 Water scarcity, expensive labour, and solar projects located in arid, drought-
prone regions have made this process expensive and unviable. To tackle this
issue, the solar industry has been shifting to robotic cleaning technologies,
which provide a cost-effective method to clean solar panels compared to
manual cleaning.
 Robotic cleaning solutions are gaining acceptance amongst utility-scale solar
developers because of their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
 Robotic Cleaning Can Maximize Energy Yield & Reduce O&M Cost of
Solar Projects

3. Discuss the precautions to be taken to increase the life span of a

Battery
 Do not allow the battery to stand idle for long time, this may cause
inactivation of the battery cells.
 Do not charge the battery with very high rate of current because high
rate of charging causes high temperature rise and excessive gassing,
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

resulting in heavy loss of water and sometime overflowing of

electrolyte from the battery cells.
 After every complete discharge, the battery should be immediately
charged before returning it to its regular floating service. Otherwise
there may be a chance of deposition of sulphate film on the plates.
 As already mentioned, the battery cells should be charged gently at
normal rate so that there will be no chance of immediate gassing and
temperature rise over 40oC. Otherwise there may be damage to the
battery cells due to high temperature.
 During charging of batteries, continuous monitoring is required, if
gassing starts and the temperature reaches the said limit, then reduce the
rate of charging. If after reducing the charging rate, the temperature is
still approaching to the limit, it indicates the completion of charging
process because even the normal rate of charging may produce high
temperature rise if the battery approaches to the fully charged condition.
 The voltage of each of the battery cells should be checked before
conclusion of charging and each of the cells are properly and equally
charged and the readings should also be tallied with previous record.
 The battery should be refilled with fresh electrolyte once in three years
interval to maintain the battery in proper operating conditions.

4. Company Y has installed solar PV system. Inverter is showing the

following fault indications at the customer’s place. What are your
inferences and solution.
a. Continuous alarm blaring
b. LCD shows incorrect code
c. Low back-up capability
d. Battery fails to charge
e. Inverter makes noise
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

 Continuous Alarm Blaring

This situation happens when an inverter bears too much load. The solution to
this problem is to disconnect all the devices that cause an extra burden on the
inverter. Another reason for alarm blaring is the trouble with its cooling fan.
While an inverter works, this fan maintains a cool temperature in it. If the fan
will not be operating correctly, either the inverter will blow an alarm or shut
down. It indicates that a unit of an inverter is not running properly. So, clean
up the fan and make it work properly.
 LCD Shows Incorrect Codes:
A frequent glitch of an inverter is that its LCD does not show the correct
numbers. It can happen due to:
 External Issues
 Internal Problems
Internal problems can be related to circuits. Hence, a professional would be
required to solve them. The external problems can be resolved by:
 Inspect Battery Cables
 Check Input and Output Wires
 Recheck the load
 Low Backup Capability
One of the major problems with inverters is a very short backup time. The
reasons can be:
 Too much power consumption.
 Charging battery incorrectly.
 Low Electrolyte Level
These three issues can be resolved by eradicating extra loads, charging a
battery for a few hours, and refilling water in a battery respectively.
 Battery Fails To Charge
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

The reasons for this issue can be:

 Dead Battery
 Burnt Rectifiers
 Melted Fuses
 Loose Connections
In this case, replace the battery and clean the terminals for corrosion.

 Inverter Makes Noise

Usually, inverters make noise. But it gets increased when its fan collects a lot
of dust and debris. To get rid of this issue, clean the fan. If the noise persists,
change the fan.

5. Analyse and suggest the steps to be followed to maintain the

batteries.
• Check the battery's state of charge. Most batteries have a State of
Charge Indicator on top of the battery that will give you an on the spot
diagnosis of the battery condition. However, a more reliable way to
check is with a voltmeter to determine the stabilised voltage or if the
vent caps are removable a hydrometer to determine the specific gravity
(SG) of the electrolyte. A charged Century battery will have a stabilised
voltage above 12.5 volts and an SG reading above 1.240.
• Ensure the battery top is clean, dry, free of dirt and grime. A dirty
battery can discharge across the grime on top of the battery casing.
• Inspect the terminals, screws, clamps and cables for breakage, damage
or loose connections. These should be clean, tight and free of corrosion.
• Apply a thin coating of high temperature grease to posts and cable
connections for added protection.
• Inspect the battery case for obvious signs of physical damage or
warpage. This usually indicates the battery has been overheated or has
been overcharged.

VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

 • If you have a maintainable battery, it is important to check if the battery
has sufficient electrolyte covering the battery plates. If topping up is
required, do not over fill as the fluid levels will rise when the battery is
fully charged and may overflow. Top up using distilled or
demineralised water and never fill with sulphuric acid.
• When servicing a sealed maintenance free (SMF) battery, check the
State of Charge Indicator. This gives you a snap shot of the battery's
condition and whether the battery needs to be charged or replaced. The
vehicle may still start the engine although the indicator outlines to
replace the battery. If the State of Charge Indicator advises 'Replace
Battery' it is important that the battery is replaced as the electrolyte
levels may be below the plates which can lead to an internal explosion.
• For batteries used in seasonal applications and stored long term, fully
recharge the battery prior to storing. Check the state of charge or
voltage regularly. Should the voltage drop below 12.5V, recharge the
battery. It is important to check the battery completely before
reconnecting to electrical devices.

6. Suggest the safety precautions to be taken for their safety during

inspection and maintenance of batteries.

Battery Acid
Battery acid can cause burns. Suitable hand, eye and face protection and
protective clothing must be worn.
First Aid
For advice, contact a doctor immediately. If in eyes, hold eyelids apart and
flush the eye continuously with running water.
Continue flushing until advised to stop by poisons information centre or
doctor, or at least 15 minutes. If skin or hair contact occurs, remove
contaminated clothing and flush skin or hair with running water.
Acid Spill Response
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

Bund and neutralise spills with soda ash or other suitable alkali. Dispose of
residue as chemical waste or as per local requirements.
Exploding Battery
Batteries generate explosive gases during vehicle operation and when charged
separately. Flames, sparks, burning cigarettes or other ignition sources must
be kept away at all times. Exercise caution when working with metallic tools
or conductors to prevent short circuits and sparks.
Always Wear Eye Protection When Working Near Batteries
When charging batteries, work in a well-ventilated area - never in a closed
room. Always turn battery charger or ignition off* before disconnecting a
battery.
Discuss the main objectives of using SCADA
Objectives /Functions of SCADA:

1. Monitoring : Continuous monitoring of the parameters of voltage ,

current, etc..

2. Measurement: Measurement of variables for processing.

3. Data Acquisition: Frequent acquisition of data from RTUs and Data

Loggers / Phasor data Concentrators (PDC)..

4. Data Communication: Transmission and receiving of large amounts

of data from field to control centres.

5. Control: Online real time control for closed loop and open loop
processes.

6. Automation: Automatic tasks of switching of transmission lines,

CBs, etc.

1. Differentiate between PLC and RTU(Any 5

points) Difference between PLC and RTU

 A PLC (programmable logic controller) is a small industrial

computer which originally replaced relay logic.
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

 It had inputs and outputs similar to those an RTU has.

 It contained a program which executed a loop, scanning the inputs and
taking actions based on these inputs.
 Originally the PLC had no communications capability, but they began
to be used in situations where communications was a desirable feature.
Communications modules were developed for PLC's, supporting
ethernet (for use in distributed control systems) and the Modbus
communications protocol for use over dedicated (wire) links.
 As time goes on we will see PLC's support more sophisticated
communications protocols
 RTU's have always been used in situations where the communications
are more difficult, and the RTU's strength was its ability to handle
difficult communications.
 RTU's originally had poor programmability in comparison to PLC's. As
time has gone on, the programmability of the RTU has increased.
2. Discuss the necessity of renewable sources of electricity to charge
Electric vehicle.
 Electric vehicles are more efficient than combustion engine cars
because they do not have tail pipe emissions.
 Electric vehicles have very little emissions even when charged from a
fossil fuel electricity grid.
 If non-renewable resources are used to charge the EV, it requires
additional investment on the power grid and also pollution. So
renewable source is used for EV charging that eliminates the
additional investment on the grid.
 If solar panels are used to charge the batteries and for charging EVs,
then additional demand caused by the charging stations on the grid
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

can be reduced. The energy stored in the batteries can also reduce the
demand on the power station during times of peak demand.
 By implementing renewable energy in EV infrastructure, pollution
caused by greenhouse gas emissions from both the vehicles and the
power plants can be reduced.

3. Discuss the different modes of EV charging as per the standard

IEC 61851.
The IEC 61851 standard has defined different modes for EV
charging:

 Charging mode 1 uses regular 230 V, AC sockets. Mode 1 is limited

to a maximum charging capacity of 2.3 kW to ensure safety as it lacks
communication.
 Charging mode 2 uses an In-Cable Control Box (ICCB) with a regular
230 V socket. The ICCB controls the charging capacity. Although
normally used at 2.3 kW (1-phase, 10 A), Mode 2 has a maximum
charging capacity of 7.4 kW (single phase, 32 A) or 22 kW (three-
phase, 32 A
 Charging mode 3 determines the adequate charging capacity by
communication between EV and charging point. Most mode 3 public
charging points deliver 11 kW, 22kW or fast charging.
 Charging mode 4 is DC charging and is usually applied for fast
charging. Charging capacity ranges from 50 kW and higher.

4. Discuss the steps to install solar at-home EV charger

Step 1: Choose an Installation Spot

The best location for solar panels is on a south-facing spot on your
roof that will get the most sunlight. If you are only installing the
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

panels for your EV charger, your garage can be a good place to

install it, free of shadows and overhanging trees.

Step 2: Mount the Brackets

Solar panels need to be mounted securely to your roof or garage
using sturdy brackets. Since solar panels are fragile and expensive,
it’s important to make sure they’re mounted correctly. Solar panel
brackets usually come with the solar panel kit, but if not, you can
purchase them at a hardware store.

Step 3: Install the Panels

The panels should now be carefully placed and angled appropriately
at around 18 to 36 degrees depending on the slope of the roof. These
will be secured to the brackets using bolts tightened enough to be
strong but not too tight as to strip the bolts.

Step 4: Get the Electrical Wired

An electrician can now do the electrical wiring that will allow you to
harness the solar power in your appliances. This will include
connecting the solar panel to an inverter and then to your home’s
electrical grid.

Step 5: Connect the Solar Inverter and Solar Battery

Your solar panels require an inverter and a battery to convert and
harness the energy it gathers from UV rays. The solar inverter
changes the direct current (DC) electricity that solar panels create
into an alternating current (AC).
This is the type of energy used by most appliances and devices in
your home. The solar battery stores solar power so that it can be used
when there is no sunlight, like at night or on cloudy days.
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

Step 6: Install the Electric Car Charger Per Manufacturer Instructions

And lastly, install your new electric vehicle charger according to its
instructions. Your newly installed solar-powered EV charger will
use the solar panels to generate electricity, which is then used to
charge your electric vehicle.

5. For 2 GW solar plant which communication protocol you

recommend for SCADA. Justify your recommendation. Can you Suggest
typical SCADA hardware and software required for the plant .
Most widely protocol for communication used in SCADA is MODBUS
● MODBUS allows communication between several devices connected
to the network through RTUs in SCADA.
● In this protocol, the master may initiate a MODBUS command to
activate the connected element / device. The command contains the
MODBUS address of the device. Only the indented device will act on
receiving the command though other devices receive them. The
MODBUS command ensures that the command is received unchanged
through an inbuilt checking information.
 Easy installation, configuration and use
 Open specifications that do not require hardware constraints.
 Reliable communication between automation devices
 Interoperability between devices from different manufacturers.
 The use of the Modbus RTU protocol is compatible with many
other industrial automation products: PLCs, temperature
controllers, operator panels, data loggers, etc., which can easily
communicate with a common supervisor.

Hardware
SCADA mainly consists of RTUs, Central processor and
associated memory, Communications and Other equipment, etc.,
Remote Terminal Units (RTU)
· The RTU provides an interface to the field analog
and digital sensors situated at each remote site.

VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

 RTU Hardware:
The RTU Hardware consists of inputs, outputs, memory and
communications.
Inputs
● Analog inputs (AI)
● Counter inputs (CI)
● Digital inputs (DI)
Outputs
● Analog outputs (AO)
● Digital outputs (DO)
Memory
● Static and Dynamic Memory
Control processor and associated memory, Communications and
Other equipment, Communication interface(s)
Power supply e. RTU rack and enclosure

Software functions
· Real time operating system.
· Driver for the communications system, which is the link
to the SCADA Master.
· Device drivers for the I/O system connecting to the field
devices.
· SCADA applications like scanning of inputs, processing
and storing of data, responding to requests from the SCADA master
over the communications network.
· Some method may exist to allow the user applications to
be configured in the RTU. This may be simple parameter setting,
enabling or disabling specific I/O's or it may represent a complete
user programming environment.
· Some RTU's may have a file system with support for
file downloads. This supports user programs, and configuration
files.

6. Smart cities are planned for city X, Discuss the different areas in
which SCADA can be used so that better utilisation of resources.

Electric power system, operation and control: SCADA systems are

used in electric power generation plants, transmission area and
distribution system.

VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

 Manufacturing Industries or plants: A SCADA helps in management
of different inventory items or raw materials, controlling of automated
systems in synchronous manner.

Telecom and IT based systems:-Management of different RF based

systems, communication mediums and large communication systems
including data logging through antennas can be easily done through the
SCADA.

Water and sewage treatment plants and supply management:-

SCADA based systems are used by the state or municipal corporation
to monitor, control and regulate water capacities in reservoir.

Traffic controls: SCADA helps in regulation of traffic signals ,

controls the traffic flow in railway systems on road systems and air
traffic controls.

Lift and Elevator controls: SCADA can also be used for lift and
elevator controls.

7. Tesla model 3 electric car has 50kWh battery capacity and 350
kms range. Estimate the amount of Electricity needed to charge
this vehicle? Assuming that the owner of the vehicle travels 2000
kms /month, calculate the number of solar panels needed. Missing
data can be suitably assumed.
Distance travelled per month = 2000 kms.
Tesla 3 can drive 350 kms on a single
charge.

Number of full charges needed per month can be calculated as,

2000 kms / 350 kms per charge = 5.71 approx 6 charges per
month

Therefore energy needed per month is,

50 kWh battery x 6 charges per month = 300 kWh needed per month
Energy needed per day:

300 kWh per month / 30 days in a month = 10 kWh

needed per day
Total wattage of solar panels = Total energy required per day/
(effective Sunshine hours x panel efficiency)
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

= 10 kWh per day / (5 .5 x 0.78) = 2.33 kW

Choosing 400W or 0.4 kW solar panel, the number of solar panels

needed will be,

2.33 kW / .4 kW = 5.82 approx 6 solar panels

Rounding up, 6 solar panels of 400W each are needed to charge the
Tesla 3 with the long-range battery.

Discuss how EVs can be utilised for better RE Grid Integration

 Electric vehicles (EVs) are believed to be feasible solutions for reducing greenhouse gases
(GHGs).
 Since EVs primarily receive their electricity from the electric grid, synchronizing these grids
with low carbon electricity production by adopting renewable energy with high energy-
conversion efficiency will undoubtedly create a cleaner landscape in both the energy and
mobility sectors.
 In addition, electric vehicles also tend to have higher overall efficiency when compared with
their conventional gasoline counterparts, the internal combustion engine (ICE)-based vehicles.

 This is due to the higher efficiency in grid electricity generation and regenerative braking.
 The average duration over which EVs are used as a transportation instrument is only about
5%, which is comprised mostly of commuting during the weekdays and traveling during the
weekends [5]. Therefore, for the remaining 95% of their time (idling time), EVs can be
utilized for other purposes by tapping into their batteries and communication capabilities,
which forms the basis for the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) concept

 In a conventional charging system, EV charging is performed in a uni-directional mode, in

which the electricity only flows from the charger (grid) to the EV battery, but not in the
reverse direction.

 Managing the charging patterns of EVs is considered a crucial step for the penetration of EVs
in the global markets since it strongly affects the quality of transmission through the electrical
grids.

 Through appropriate management and control, it is possible to tap into the massive battery
reserves of EVs for utilization in other secondary applications, especially when EVs are
connected to the electrical grid.

 The term vehicle-grid integration (VGI) is a broader term or a concept that hints at a possible
synergistic utilization of both the grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and V2G systems. While the former
refers to the flow of electricity from the grid to EVs (which would be the case during
VISWESWARAIAH POLYTECHNIC NARGUND ,DEPT OF EEE

charging), while the latter facilitates the flow of electricity from EVs to the grid (discharging,
electricity return).

 It is also helpful to note at this point that V2G as a term has been used synonymously with
that of VGI to mean the flow of electricity in both directions (both from and to the grid). That
being said, not only can a system like that of VGI bring down the load to the grid (that might
arise due to a higher charging demand created by the EVs at a particular point of time), but it
also positively supports the grid by effectively controlling both the charging and discharging
behaviors.

 Integration of EV charging systems and renewable energy has a huge impact on the quality of
electricity that can be made available from the grid. In the event of a spike in power demand
due to a large number of EVs charging simultaneously, the grid overload will negatively
affect the power quality.

 Vehicles that are compatible with the grid and allow for bi-directional power flow are
commonly referred to as gridable electric vehicles (GEVs). It is also important for the grid,
RES, and EVs to be in constant communication with each other for efficient grid functioning,
which could be reliably achieved using V2G telematics.

Discuss the different modes of EV charging as per the standard IEC

61851
 Charging mode 1 uses regular 230 V, AC sockets. Mode 1 is limited to a maximum
charging capacity of 2.3 kW to ensure safety as it lacks communication.

 Charging mode 2 uses an In-Cable Control Box (ICCB) with a regular 230 V socket. The
ICCB controls the charging capacity. Although normally used at 2.3 kW (1-phase, 10 A),
Mode 2 has a maximum charging capacity of 7.4 kW (single phase, 32 A) or 22 kW (three-
phase, 32 A

 Charging mode 3 determines the adequate charging capacity by communication between EV

and charging point. Most mode 3 public charging points deliver 11 kW, 22kW or fast
charging.

 Charging mode 4 is DC charging and is usually applied for fast charging. Charging capacity
ranges from 50 kW and higher