Solar power systems have emerged as a frontrunner as the world is shifting toward more sustainable and renewable energy. Solar plants use the energy from the sun to generate electricity, and they rely on a complex network of instruments to function efficiently. In the following lines we will explore the important role of current transformers in solar plants.
Current Transformer types
Current transformers or CTs are electrical devices used in many applications, including solar energy systems, to measure electric current. It is a type of instrument that produces a reduced current proportional to the current in its primary circuit. Current transformers are designed to convert high current into smaller, manageable currents available for measurement and protection devices.
CT working principle depends on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic Induction as shown in Figure 1. there are many types of current transformers:
- Bar type current transformers
- Toroidal type current transformers
- Wounded type current transformers
How do current transformers work?
Current transformers play an important role in solar panel systems by measuring and monitoring the electric current generated by solar panels. Here are some key roles of CTs in solar panels.
- Measure the electrical current produced by solar panels
- Help monitor the performance of the solar array in real-time
- Protect against overcurrent or short circuits
- Ensure that the solar system operates smoothly and safely
- Enable accurate billing for excess energy fed back into the grid
- Identify issues with individual panels for maintenance
Current Transformers (CTs) Uses
Electrical transformers or current transformers have a number of benefits in solar power plants, some of them and their importance are mentioned below.
• Ground fault detection in solar power plants
A ground fault occurs when an unintended electrical connection is established between a live conductor and the ground (earth). They can lead to electrical fires, equipment damage and even electrical shock hazards. IN this condition current transformers can be used as they can monitor the flow of electrical current and can identify variations that indicate gr faults.
In a healthy circuit currents should be balanced, when a ground fault occurs, it introduces an oundimbalance in the currents, CTs detect this difference.
• Short circuit protection in solar arrays
Short circuits are another major concern in solar arrays. They occur when an unintended connection is made between two conductors, leading to a sudden increase in current flow. The consequences of short circuit include overheating, fire and reduced efficiency of solar plants.
• Protecting overcurrent conditions
CTs use the concept of electromagnetic induction and hence they can easily detect any variations in current flowing through a circuit. When overcurrent is detected, CTs provide the necessary data to initiate protective action.
• Automatic disconnect mechanism.
To protect against harmful effects of short circuit solar arrays often have mechanisms such as circuit breakers, fuses etc.
Working Principle of Current Transformer
The current transformer works a bit differently than a regular voltage transformer. It has two coils like the voltage transformer. When electricity flows through the main coil, it creates a changing magnetic field. This causes electricity to flow in the secondary coil. This transformer is meant to work with a low resistance, so it acts like a short circuit.
When the secondary coil is not connected to anything (an open circuit), it can cause problems. Normally, the same amount of electricity flows through both coils in opposite directions, which is good. But if the secondary coil is open, the primary coil will send a lot of electricity without any opposition. This can damage the transformer and cause high voltage in the secondary coil.
This high voltage can damage the insulation and make the transformer less accurate in the future. So, it’s important to never leave the secondary coil open when the primary coil is carrying electricity.
p=v*I
p=power
v=voltage
I=current
CTs for Performance Monitoring
CTs measure the Ac current output from inverters and other equipments, allowing for accurate measurement of energy generation.the total energy output can be determined by integrating the current readings over time
E=P(t) d(t)
Where, E= energy in watt-hours
P(t)= power over time
• Detecting underperformance or panel faults
A sudden drop in energy generation that can not be explained by environmental factors may indicate a fault in one or more solar panels. By using current transformers they can measure the energy accurately and hence it will help in detecting the underperformance or panel fault.
• Balancing the load between the inverters
In solar power plants multiple inverters can be used to convert DC power into AC power, load balancing involves evenly distributing the power output among these inverters proper load balancing can be achieved by monitoring the AC current output from each inverter by using a CT . When one inverter’s output drops due to a fault, the load can be shifted to other inverters for balanced operation.
Applications of Current Transformers in Solar Plants
In future technologies current transformers can be used for the following two purposes. First in predictive maintenance and second in integration with energy storage.
Predictive maintenance:
We can use current transformers for predictive maintenance in the following ways.
- Condition based monitoring
- Early detection of equipment damage
- Preventing costly downtime
And for integration with energy storage current transformers can be used
- In measuring battery charge and discharge.
- Optimising energy storage system.
- Enhancing grid resilience
Conclusion
Current transformers are very important in solar plants for ensuring safety of operations to optimizing energy generation and storage. As technologies continue to evolve, CTs will remain at the top level of energy innovation, enabling solar plants to function more efficiently.
