International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology E-ISSN 2277 – 4106, P-ISSN 2347 – 5161

©2016 INPRESSCO®, All Rights Reserved Available at http://inpressco.com/category/ijcet

Research Article

Real Time Data Monitoring of PV Solar cell using LabVIEW

Maulik Vyas#*, Kalpesh Chudasama#, Manan Bhatt# and Bhavin Gohil#
#Department of Electrical Engineering, A.D.I.T., Gujarat, India

Accepted 22 Dec 2016, Available online 24 Dec 2016, Vol.6, No.6 (Dec 2016)

Abstract

Nowadays, the growing demands of energy, insecure energy resources and emission of hazardous gases have
attracted the attention of the whole world towards the renewable energy. Thus, at this time, the entire world is
concentrated on the renewable energy sources. Also, the evolution in software technology, we are able to monitor the
data of any system in real-time manner. Monitoring solar panel output is the best way to track the working of the
solar power system continuously. Solar monitoring software allows not just viewing how much electricity the solar
panels are generating, but also it gives real-time updates. Our project is designed with the help of LabVIEW and DAQ
card. The solar panel is connected to the battery and then with sensors. We have connected four sensors with
LabVIEW via DAQ hardware to acquire data. LabVIEW has shown a high performance in communicating with several
devices simultaneously and high capability of displaying several variables behaviour at a time. Therefore, the
proposed system develops a very simple, low cost, high reliable, photovoltaic data monitoring system using Lab-view
software and DAQ hardware. The monitored data can be stored for further analysis. This project will be useful power
for continually monitoring of solar energy at solar plant.

Keywords: LabVIEW, PV cell, Data acquisition, Real time data monitoring

1. Introduction in the n-type region. This reduces the potential energy

barrier at the junction, then current flows and set up an
1 Indiais the seventh largest nation with an area of 3.287 external potential difference.
million km2. Also, it is a relatively rich and rapidly
developing country where it receives more than 7 1.2 DAQ hardware
hours of direct sunlight each day throughout the year;
for this reason demand for solar energy is growing on Data acquisition hardware (DAQ) can be used to
significantly annually. The capability of solar cell is that acquire data captured by different paths at the same
it can convert into electrical energy from the plentiful time. DAQ comprises both Analog-Digital converter &
and free solar energy. Also, any adverse forms of Digital to Analog converter. It interfaces the analog
pollution are not generated which may affect our output of sensor. It is having 32 input/output pins in
atmosphere. So, India now tends to move to solar which eight single-ended analog inputs (AI) channels,
energy. Earlier, measuring data continuously was not two analog output (AO) channels, 12 DIO channels with
an easy due to deficiency in advancement of software a full-speed USB interface. AIx pins are the input
technology. But, LabVIEW is a national instruments channels where input analog quantities are to be given
product that we can used to monitor the data for real whereas AO pins are the output channels where the
time applications. Laboratory Virtual instrumentation output is to be obtained (Hans-Petter Halvorsen,
for Engineering Workbench is an abbreviation for 2013).
LabVIEW.
1.3 LabVIEW software
1.1 Solar cell
A LabVIEW model is whereby the system equipments
A solar cell is an electrical apparatus that translates the are simulated as virtual instruments interacted with
light energy into electrical energy by the photovoltaic functional blocks. In LabVIEW, there are mainly two
effect. When light falls on the solar cell, electrons are windows: Front panel and Block diagram. The
liberated in the p type region and holes are produced functional block is constructed in the block diagram,
while the output is seen in the front panel. LabVIEW
*Corresponding author Maulik Vyas, Manan Bhatt and Bhavin
Gohil are students; Kalpesh Chudasama is working as Assistant requires graphical block to make program instead of
Professor scripted words of line which does not require any
2218| International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.6, No.6 (Dec 2016)
Maulik Vyas et al Real Time Data Monitoring of PV Solar cell using LabVIEW

coding knowledge. It also executes block in terms data 5. Components Used

flow programming, which is very convenient
(LabVIEW, 2009). 5.2 Charge Controller

2. Block Diagram The main function of charge controller is quite simple.

It limits the rate at which the current drawn from or
added to batteries. This prevents the batteries from
overcharging or over discharging. This is how it
extends the life span of battery. Charge controller gets
signal from the solar module. It may also prevent
draining completely a battery depending upon the
battery technology to prevent the battery life.
The circuit consists of a relay (12 V, 10 A), Diode,
Capacitor, Resistors, IC LM324, an LED, Transistor
BC548x2 and connecting Wires. The output voltage
coming out from this circuit is about 12 V if the input
voltage is greater than 12 V. But if the input voltage is
lower than 12 than the output voltage would be the
same.

5.2 Battery

An electric battery is a device consisting of one or more

Figure 1: Block diagram of system electrochemical cells with external connections.
Batteries convert chemical energy directly to electrical
3. Objectives of the system energy. The battery which has been used in our project
work has output voltage is about 12 V and output
The aim of the particular work is to monitor the current is 4 A.
acquired data in real time manner of photo voltaic
stand alone energy system. 5.3 Current Sensor
The first objective of the project is to make a
sensitive and economical real time system for A current sensor is a device that generates a signal
continuously monitoring the solar module parameters. proportional to current passing through in it. We can
Also, design of a virtual instrument for measuring the then develop to present the measured current in an
electrical quantities via DAQ card and the interfacing ammeter or else it can be used for advance laboratory
between hardware and software. analysis in a data acquisition system.
At present, LabVIEW application reach has covered It is a Hall Effect I-V Converter. For sensing of AC or
industrial automation, test and measurement, DC current accurately and economically, ACS712 is the
embedded applications, motion control, image best device in communication system as well in
processing, computer simulation, FPGA and other industries. We can apply input connections at the blue
fields. So, it has been applicable here. part.
There are three output terminals. 1) Vcc, 2) GND
4. Interfacing LabVIEW with DAQ card
and 3) Out. We can apply +5 V supply to the Vcc from
STEP 1: Firstly, download the Measurement and digital channels of DAQ hardware. Output terminal
Automation Explorer (MAX) and driver software of gives to the DAQ analog I/O channel and ground
NIDAQmX to get access of the system. terminal joins to the GND channel in DAQ card.
STEP 2: Now, go to ‘Devices and Interfaces’ and expand
it by clicking. 5.4 Temperature Sensor
STEP 3: Right click on the NIDAQmX devices and
create a task.
STEP 4: Now, click to the acquire signals and further
on the Analog input.
STEP 5: You will see a list of different parameters.
Select any one or more according to your requirement.
STEP 6: Now, select a USB device and a list of channels
will appear there.
STEP 7: Choose the channel from ai0 to ai7 as per they
actually connected.
STEP 8: A page will appear of different configurations.
Make changes as per your requirement. By clicking Ok
button, you are done. Figure 2: Temperature sensor
2219| International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.6, No.6 (Dec 2016)
Maulik Vyas et al Real Time Data Monitoring of PV Solar cell using LabVIEW

This circuit consists of a heat sink, IC LM 35, 2 resistors 7. Results

of 470 ohm, one resistor of 10k ohm and one of 2k
ohm. IC LM35 detects accurate temperature. It has a
wide range of measurement and a good accuracy. The
output of IC increases as the temperature rises.

Figure 3: Circuit of temperature sensor

5.5 Light Intensity Sensor

Figure 5: Block diagram for Temperature
measurement
We have used this sensor to measure the intensity of
light intensity. Firstly, we had 12 V batteries for this
study. So, we decided to prepare a 12-9 V converter
that consists of 4 capacitors and IC 7809.

Figure 6: Front Panel for Temperature measurement

Figure 4: Light intensity sensor

6. Working

First of all, the solar module is placed in the open

ground for initial charging. After that, the charge is
applied to the various sensors through battery and
charge controller. Here, four sensors, voltage sensor,
current sensor, temperature sensor and light intensity
sensor are being used. Then, the output of these
sensors is sent to the DAQ hardware, which converts
the analog quantity into digital. Next, these data is
interfaced with LabVIEW. That is showed on the front
panel of LabVIEW. Temperature and light intensity is
firstly obtained as voltage form, but after that from the
equations, it is converted into their respective value.
Here, there is also an indicator, if there is an excessive
value from the set reference amount. Figure 7: Block Diagram for Light Intensity
2220| International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.6, No.6 (Dec 2016)
Maulik Vyas et al Real Time Data Monitoring of PV Solar cell using LabVIEW

Fig. 9 depicts the current measurement, where the

variable is changed from voltage to current for direct
measurement of current to avoid further calculation.

Conclusion

Although, charges of the renewable energy are higher

than the non-renewable resources, these methods are
constantly rising as the demand of renewable energy is
rising due to global warming.
Besides, day by day, the amount of the conventional
resources diminishes and it becomes costly in price. So,
more and more people are laying rooftop solar panels.
So, it is vital to determine the output of the PV panels in
Figure 8: Front Panel for Light Intensity
order to achieve an accurate operation of the device
and reduce the energy losses.
In the developed system, we have acquired the data
from the solar module. So, we can obtain the data from
any solar plant and sent it for the further analysis. This
system is very accurate and reliable for data
acquisition and continuously measurement.
Future work, we have an idea to send the acquired
data from one place to other remote area and also to
make the highest efficient by attaching the stepper
Figure 9: Block diagram for Current measurement motor.

7.1 Equations References

7.1.1. Voltage to temperature conversion H. Bala Murugan, S.V. Siva Nagaraju, K. Satish
Kumar, K.C. Ramakrishnan, V.E. Sowjanya, (2013), PV Solar
Temp. In deg. Celsius = Vout x 100 deg celsius / Vin Cell Real Time Data Monitoring Using LabVIEW and DAQ,
7.1.2. Voltage to light Intensity conversion International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical,
Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering Vol. 2, Issue 8.
Lux = Power/Area. Aissa Chouder, Santiago Silvestre, Bilal Taghezouit, Engin
Power is calculated by acquiring voltage and current Karatepe, (2012), Monitoring modelling and simulation of
from the front panel. PV systems using LabVIEW, Sciverse ScienceDirect,.
LabVIEW,(2009), Getting Started with LabVIEW. National
8. Discussion Instruments.
Narendra Singh Chauhan, Abhishek Kumar Gupta and Ravi
From the above shown results, it can be apparently Saxena, (2015), Development of Virtual Laboratory for
seen that the data from the sensors is easily captured Simulation and Performance Analysis of PV System,
and displayed by LabVIEW software through DAQ card. International Journal for Research in Emerging Science and
Fig. 6 shows the measuring and monitoring for Technology, Volume-2, Issue-5, May.
temperature; it is accomplished through measuring User Guide NI USB-6008/6009. National Instruments.
voltage continuously from the output side of the Hans-Petter Halvorsen, Introduction to DAQ with LabVIEW.
sensor. It is then converted to the temperature by an Hans-Petter Halvorsen, Data Acquisition in LabVIEW, (2013),
equation. The outputs can be obtained from Numeric Telemark University College, Department of Electrical
indicator, Tank and Graph. The temperature shows the Engineering, Information Technology and Cybernetics, Issue
temperature of solar panels. Fig. 8 illustrates the front 16.
panel for the measurement of light intensity. Here, https://www.emant.com
output voltage is converted to the light intensity. The https://www.circuiteasy.com
importance of the findings is that we can understand https://www.google.co.in
about the sunlight for different areas.

2221| International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.6, No.6 (Dec 2016)