Skip to content

Controllers for pumping

In PVsyst, the control device is the heart of the pumping system operation.

The PVsyst component definition, named "Controller for Pumping" for convenience, includes several functions, which may be devoted to separate physical devices in the real system:

  • It defines the global operating configuration of the system and manages its specific parameters.
  • It ensures operating and safety limitations, namely the absolute Power/Voltage/Current limits, as well as switching OFF when the tank is full or the input level falls below the aspiration inlet (avoiding dry running).
  • It may include a power converter (MPPT or fixed DC-DC, with DC or AC output according to the pump device). When multiple pumps are used, there is usually one power converter for each pump, but in some cases there may be only one converter.

NB: When the PVsyst pump device is defined along with its own power converter, the simulation will of course use the parameter of the pump power conditioning unit.

See Controllers for Pumping: parameters for a complete description of the component parameter.

Universal Controller

When starting the study of a pumping system, the choice of operating strategy is fundamental, but control details are not critical. Therefore, like stand-alone systems, PVsyst provides a Default Universal Controller for each configuration strategy.

The secondary parameters of such regulators are set to optimal values according to the system definition (this is done just before the simulation process). However, for each configuration, some operating values are basic user choices that form part of the system definition parameters. Examples include irradiance thresholds for pump cascading or array reconfiguration, and input voltage adjustment in DC-DC converters.

Real and Commercial Control devices

In practice, all functions of the PVsyst "Controller" component will not always be integrated into a single commercial device. Therefore, for your final simulations with real components, you will probably need to define your own "Controller for Pumping" device dedicated to your project. This may include properties of one or several commercial components (for example, an existing control device and an existing power converter), as well as parameters specific to your project (such as irradiance thresholds).

NB: A specific control device and a power converter (when needed) are often offered by pump manufacturers for each of their products. However, they sometimes have "switchable" options, which means we must define several corresponding components in the PVsyst database.