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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 the operating and safety limitations, namely the Power/Voltage/Current absolute limits, as well as the swiching OFF when the tank is full or the input level goes below the aspiration inlet (avoiding dry running).
  • It may include a power converter (MPPT or fixed V DC-DC, DC or AC output according to the pump device). When several pumps, there is usually one power converter for each pump, but in some cases there could be one only 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 operating strategy choice is of course fundamental, but details of the control are not relevant. Therefore, as for the stand-alone systems, PVsyst provides a Default Universal Controller for each configuration strategy.

The secondary parameters of such regulators are fixed at optimal values according to the system definition (this is achieved just before the simulation process). But for each configuration, some operating values are basic choices of the user, which are a main part of the System definition parameters. These are for example Irradiance thresholds for Pumps cascading or Array reconfiguration, Input Voltage adjustment in DC-DC converters, etc.

Real and Commercial Control devices

In the reality, all functions of the PVsyst "Controller" component will not always be gathered in one only commercial device. Therefore for your definitive simulations with real components, you will probably have to define your own "Controller for Pumping" device, dedicated to your project. This may include the properties of one or several commercial components (for example existing control device + existing power converter), as well as some parameters specific to your project (for example Irradiance thresholds).

NB: A specific Control device - as well as a power converter when needed - is often proposed by the pump manufacturers for each of their products. But they sometimes hold some "switchable" options, so that we have to define several corresponding components in the PVsyst database.