Design of a Low-Cost Multiplexer for the Study of the Impact of Soiling on PV Panel Performance

• Main Authors: Gabriel López, Diego Ramírez, Joaquín Alonso-Montesinos, Juan Sarmiento, Jesús Polo, Nuria Martín-Chivelet, Aitor Marzo, Francisco Javier Batlles, Pablo Ferrada
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: multiplexer; PV plants monitoring; soiling; I–V curves
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4186

Atmospheric factors, such as clouds, wind, dust, or aerosols, play an important role in the power generation of photovoltaic (PV) plants. Among these factors, soiling has been revealed as one of the most relevant causes diminishing the PV yield, mainly in arid zones or deserts. The effect of soiling on the PV performance can be analyzed by means of I–V curves measured simultaneously on two PV panels: one soiled and the other clean. To this end, two I–V tracers, or one I–V tracer along with a multiplexer, are needed. Unfortunately, these options are usually expensive, and only one I–V tracer is typically available at the site of interest. In this work, the design of a low-cost multiplexer is described. The multiplexer is controlled by a low-cost single-board microcontroller manufactured by Arduino^TM, and is capable of managing several pairs of PV panels almost simultaneously. The multiplexer can be installed outdoors, in contrast to many commercial I–V tracers or multiplexers. This advantage allows the soiling effect to be monitored on two PV panels, by means of I–V indoor tracers. I–V curves measured by the low-cost multiplexer are also presented, and preliminary results are analyzed.