Trazador de curvas I-V de bajo coste para células fotovoltaicas

Abstract

The aim of this project is to design and implement a portable device to obtain C-V and P-V characteristics curves from photovoltaic panels, with a following visualization of these. Through a user interface designed for installation on a computer, it is possible to order the measurement device to collect data and transmit it to the computer through USB or Bluetooth connection, obtain the curve in a graph or save it in a file. The data of these curves will be obtained by connecting the photovoltaic panel to a capacitor. The charge of this element increases its resistance values. When starting this process with the capacitor discharged, its resistance value is null and it short circuits the panel (maximum current). As the charging process continues, the resistance increases and the current decreases, ending with current null at the end of the charging process (equivalent to an open circuit with infinite resistance). From this process the values of voltage and current will be measured, analogue signals that will be converted to digital by ADC converters, each connected to a microcontroller. One of them will be the master of the measure, order of managing and controlling the process and communication with the computer. The other, the slave, will only be at the master’s order and will send the collected data once the reading is finished.