2. DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRODUCT
The heater regulator is used to regulate the load of the panels by changing the PWM
filling factor, and in combination with the charge buffer as an active load. This
allows the panels to work at the MPPT point, i.e. the largest power factor. The
condition for proper operation and the highest energy yields is to ensure the
appropriate load for the regulator. The regulator should be loaded with a heater with
a strong nominal adapted to the power of the panels and a voltage appropriate to the
MPPT voltage of the panels. The regulator is an element that reduces the load on the
panels in the event of insufficient sunlight, and thus allows the panels to be
maintained at an optimal point of operation.
The regulator also acts as a thermostat preventing the boiler from overheating.
In the case of insufficient cooling (e.g. in the case of contamination of the heatsink),
an additional protection was used in the form of an emergency shutdown at a
temperature of 60 degrees, which is to protect the actuators from damage by high
temperature. The device also monitors the supply voltage, and when it is too low
(insufficient to put transistors into saturation mode) I activate the procedure for
turning off the transistors. This prevents operation in active conduction mode and
thus exposure to the secretion of too much heat, which could lead to damage to the
actuators.
The device has been equipped with an additional relay output (without potential),
enabling notification of external devices that water heating has been completed
(reaching the set temperature) or entering the emergency mode (failure of the
actuating element) ER.1. As additional safety elements, the SSR DC relay is used,
which gives the possibility of emergency shutdown of water heating in the event
of a puncture of the actuating element.
Such a solution guarantees the safety of the solar power plant.
