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Parameters

See also general considerations about Control device for pumping systems.

The Controller dialog includes several pages, which are only available when pertinent.

General Tab

Reminds the main characteristics of any Pumping System Control Device, namely for system control and pump(s) operating safety.

The parameters mentioned here are not all necessary for simulation; however, they characterize the capabilities of each commercial device.

  • Main switch and tank full level sensor are in principle present in any control device. A pump inlet level sensor is required in deep well systems.
  • Electrical safety limitations (absolute maximum Power, Voltage, Current) will be set according to the pump(s) in the default regulators.
  • If a power conditioning unit is used, you must decide whether it is part of the pump definition or defined in this component. This choice is automatic with universal controllers.
  • Some operational parameters for special configurations are defined here: Pumps cascading: The irradiance threshold for switching the second (or third) pump ON. The program also provides the option to define pump power thresholds for this purpose, but this is probably more difficult to implement in practice.

Array Reconfiguration: The irradiance threshold for switching from parallel to series configuration.

Battery Buffered system: The irradiance threshold for turning the pump ON.

MPPT and DC-DC Converter

Define the standard parameters for power converter units:

  • MPPT: Minimum and maximum MPPT voltage, the tracking voltage range.
  • DC-DC: Fixed input voltage, which may be adjustable on most devices. The dialog provides access to the Voltage Optimizing tool for selecting the appropriate value according to the array definition.
  • Behavior at maximum power and voltage tracking limits. In the Universal Controller definition, the above parameters are adjustable, but all others are fixed according to the system before the simulation process.
  • Maximum array voltage and input current.
  • Output (pump driving): nominal output voltage and power, maximum power.

NB: When the converter is specified within the pump definition, the pump's converter parameters are transferred to the Controller device just before the simulation, overwriting the controller's own definitions.

Efficiency

Like other converters or inverters in PVsyst, the efficiency curve may be manually defined or automatically constructed using the "Maximum efficiency" and "Euro efficiency" specified values.

When the converter is specified within the pump definition, only the maximum and Euro efficiency specification is available (in the Pump definition dialog).

Battery Management

When using a battery, this panel defines the charge/discharge controller parameters, in the same way as in controllers for stand-alone systems.

Commercial Data

Identical to the other components.

Provides unlimited space for a detailed description of the device.