PV plant in an industrial area
- Country CZ, Biřkov
- Build year 2024
- LOXONE partner Daniel Brabec
Challenge
I was approached by a company implementing a PV power plant in a large industrial area. The problem was that the power plant is spread over a large area. And it is divided into a total of 7 breakdown points. And a total of 12 Huawei inverters, but of different types.
The problem was that the inverter manufacturer did not provide a standard solution at the time that would be able to control such a complex power plant flexibly enough.
The problem was that the inverter manufacturer did not provide a standard solution at the time that would be able to control such a complex power plant flexibly enough.
Solution
We solved everything quickly and efficiently with Loxone. The entire solution consists of a single Loxone Compact Miniserver.
In each breakdown point, a smart network analyzer equipped with a Modbus TCP unit and a Modbus RTU communication port is installed. Loxone thus communicates with all breakdown points via TCP. First, it reads the breakdown point status directly from the network analyzer. And this analyzer also serves as a bridge and forwards packets via Modbus RTU to all inverters in a given breakdown point. Furthermore, Loxone communicates with the RTU unit in the transfer point, with which it exchanges performance information.
The Loxone miniserver thus communicates in real time with a total of 20 Modbus devices (7 breakdown points, 12 inverters, 1 transfer point). At the same time, it exchanges a relatively large amount of data with all of them. Some even in relatively fast intervals (the shortest communication interval is 3 seconds). But everything runs smoothly, and without any signs of performance problems.
Preparing the control SW was also a relatively simple matter. Compared to other PLC systems.
Moreover, it is crowned with a simple and clear supervisory interface via the standard Loxone application.
In each breakdown point, a smart network analyzer equipped with a Modbus TCP unit and a Modbus RTU communication port is installed. Loxone thus communicates with all breakdown points via TCP. First, it reads the breakdown point status directly from the network analyzer. And this analyzer also serves as a bridge and forwards packets via Modbus RTU to all inverters in a given breakdown point. Furthermore, Loxone communicates with the RTU unit in the transfer point, with which it exchanges performance information.
The Loxone miniserver thus communicates in real time with a total of 20 Modbus devices (7 breakdown points, 12 inverters, 1 transfer point). At the same time, it exchanges a relatively large amount of data with all of them. Some even in relatively fast intervals (the shortest communication interval is 3 seconds). But everything runs smoothly, and without any signs of performance problems.
Preparing the control SW was also a relatively simple matter. Compared to other PLC systems.
Moreover, it is crowned with a simple and clear supervisory interface via the standard Loxone application.