Diseño de un sistema fotovoltaico para la guardianía de la Mica de la Reserva Ecológica Antisana, cantón Archidona

Abstract

The objective of this project is to provide electrification to supply part of the demand in the La Mica guardianship of the REA by means of the PV system through alternative and clean generation of electricity, mainly to ensure the operation of radio frequency and internet communication services, computer equipment, lighting and other basic services. This is intended to reduce the energy consumption of the conventional grid; help increase the reliability of electrical installations and have greater autonomy in terms of electrical energy by not depending on the electrical grid. For the estimation procedure described in the Ecuadorian Construction Norm NEC - 11 for the design of the PV system, it was necessary to collect data in the field at the La Mica guardhouse, such as: information from the AC equipment to calculate the daily energy consumed, geographic coordinates that allowed obtaining the horizontal global irradiation to calculate the amount of HSP and to determine the angular elevation of the PV panel. Additional information such as performance of the PV system equipment, PV panels and tentative batteries for the design, cloudy days per week, maximum and minimum temperature, were taken as a basis to proceed with the design of the PV system. So, the method starts with the estimation of: overall performance, storage system voltage, PV array peak power, battery capacity, charge controller capacity, PV inverter, conductor cross-section and protection components. Finally, the PV array area and the available site area were calculated. As part of the results obtained from the PV system design, the final design describes the main electrical characteristics and the number of components, such as: PV panel, battery, MPPT charge controller, inverter for off-grid systems, conductor cross-section and protection elements. The configuration of the PV array and battery bank, as well as the layout of the PV panels at the REA's La Mica guardianship site are also shown in diagrams. Due to the fact that the electrical network that reaches the La Mica guardhouse presented a failure in the supply of electrical energy, the REA required the design and execution of the PV system to self-supply its demand.