Protection of photovoltaic plants

Ensure the continuity of service of your generation system while protecting your installation with custom-made combiner boxes.

To ensure the optimum performance of the different strings, you not only need to process the photovoltaic generation data, but you also have to protect the electrical circuit properly, since a failure in this regard would result in a loss of the energy supplied to the grid, and directly impact the installation's efficiency.

A complete solution requires integrating STM systems into the Combiner Box, including all the elements associated with the protection of the strings, fuses, the output switch and the necessary overvoltage protections.

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Protection and monitoring

Level-1 combiner box

The design of our level-1 combiner boxes can be tailored as needed, meaning our design team can offer a customised solution to meet the needs of any project. We adapt our solutions for any type of current measurement device, whether a shunt or Hall effect transformer.

PV Plant Monitoring Catalogue
Protection and monitoring

Level-2 combiner box

Install level-2 combiner boxes to group the currents that come from the level-1 combiner box. This solution features current measurement using a Hall effect transformer, and provides overcurrent protection to each current input by means of a high-amperage NH1 fuse.

PV Plant Monitoring
Protection and monitoring

Customised solutions for each project

The design of each combiner box can be tailored as needed, meaning our design team can offer a customised solution to meet the energy management needs of any photovoltaic plant project.

If we combine this management capacity with the integration of wireless communications based on LoRa technology, the result is a reduction in the cost of setting up the communications network while ensuring the performance needed for the proper management of both electrical and alarm variables.

Circutor has different types of combiner box models, depending on the needs of each installation, whether for level 1 or level 2. These boxes both protect the generation system and transmit all the information on the consumption and status of the photovoltaic plant to the management system, reporting any type of anomaly and improving the efficiency of the installation.

PV Plant Monitoring

PROTECTION AND MONITORING

Level-1 Combiner Box with shunt monitoring

NIVEL 1 This Combiner Box offers a series of inputs and supports grouping of simple or double strings, with overcurrent protection for each input.

Level-1 combiner box monitored using Hall effect transformer

NIVEL 1 This Combiner Box offers a series of high-amperage inputs, and supports grouping of double or triple strings, with overcurrent protection for each input.

Level-2 combiner Box monitored using Hall effect transformer

NIVEL 2 This Combiner Box groups the currents coming from the Level-1 Combiner Box, and provides overcurrent protection to each current input by means of a high-current NH1 fuse.

PROTECTION AND MONITORING

What solutions can I install to ensure the performance of each photovoltaic string?

In order to obtain reliable information on the operation of each photovoltaic string, the operator of a photovoltaic plant has to be able to receive real-time information on the status of the electrical parameters to ensure the efficiency of the photovoltaic generation, as well as to monitor any alarms or problems that may affect the proper operation of each string line.

CIRCUTOR offers its STM solution, specifically designed to continuously monitor photovoltaic string, track the installation’s performance, and inform the plant manager of any alarms or problems that might affect the proper operation of each string line.

PV Plant Monitoring

STRING MONITORING

STM-C-LoRa

Master unit to obtain the voltage reference, power the STM-S slave modules and provide communications to the STM system by means of wireless communications via RF 868 (Radio) system.

STM-C-RS485

Master device to provide the voltage reference, power the STM-S slave modules and provide communications to the STM system via RS-485 wired communications.

STM-S-Shunt

4-channel slave module for measuring string currents. Direct measurement via shunt of up to 25 A DC, expandable to up to 8 devices (32 channels).

STM-S-Hall

Slave module for measuring up to 16 current channels with Hall effect transformers (up to four trays with 4 or 8 100A transformers).

CIRCUTOR SERVICES

Value added Circutor services

Analysis of the coverage of wireless LoRa communications (Ground Mapping)

To determine the number of gateways (units that link SCADA and the Combiner Boxes) needed to cover wireless communications, the first step involves a

Ground Mapping process in the PV plant. This is a theoretical analysis of the LoRa communications coverage using computer tools that simulate the propagation of this type of signal. This study, done by Circutor specialists, yields a map of the terrain that shows the exact position of each Combiner Box in red, and the coverage level of the LoRa signal.

Once the installation points of each Combiner Box are determined, graphs are made showing the boxes and the inverters to verify the coverage points of the LoRa signal and decide if the communications between them will be adequate, or if there will be a coverage problem. The results of this analysis will depend largely on the layout of the terrain and, to a lesser extent, on the distances.

If the theoretical result is not entirely satisfactory, as might happen in plants with very complex terrain, Circutor offers a start-up service where specialist technicians travel to the facility to conduct RF tests and measurements in order to determine where exactly to install the various LoRa Gateways and ensure proper communications between the monitoring system and the management centre.

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