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Big Data Acquisition and Analysis in Energy Storage Monitoring Systems

Application Energy Storage Systems
Industry Power 
Region USA

Introduction

An energy storage system provider in the US was commissioned to build a 40 MWh energy storage system for a key customer in the solar power industry. The energy storage system provider wanted to connect the system to a network in order to collect and monitor data, such as charging and discharging current values and the temperature of each battery, from each battery system. Analysis of this data is instrumental in finding ways to improve the battery’s charging and discharging algorithm, which could help the customer efficiently manage energy and ensure a long battery lifecycle. This is another specific example of where the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can benefit a customer. Being able to read each battery’s temperature, they would know when to turn on or off the relays, which connect or disconnect the battery, making the charging or discharging more efficient as the charging and discharging capabilities of batteries differ under different temperatures.

System Requirements

  • Monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of the battery system
  • Data acquisition for improving algorithm of battery charging and discharging, as well as data analysis
  • High temperature operating environment with an airflow cooling system

Moxa Solution

The ioLogik E1242-T, ioLogik E1260-T, and UC-8112-ME-T are the best fit for this project. Two DI channels of the ioLogik E1242-T are used to monitor relay position, and two DO channels are used to turn relays on or off. Each AI channel of the ioLogik E1242-T is used to monitor the current value of a string (six batteries). Six RTD channels of the ioLogik E1260-T are used to monitor the temperature of the six batteries. Besides, the compact and daisy-chain design of the ioLogik E1242-T and ioLogik E1260-T can be embedded into the battery system without adding an extra unmanaged switch. The UC-8112-ME-T is used to log historical data from the ioLogik E1242-T and ioLogik E1260-T. After a period of time, the system provider can retrieve the data from the UC-8112-ME-T and find out the best charging/discharging methods. All three models are wide operating temperature design, which benefits the system provider to use a cost-effective airflow cooling system, instead of using an expensive HVAC system.

Why Moxa

  • IIoT Gateway (UC-8100-ME-T)

    •   Big data collection
    •   Wide operating temperature design for customer’s airflow cooling system

  • Remote I/O (ioLogik E1242-T/ioLogik E1260-T)

    •   Compact size to easily embed into the energy storage system
    •   Embedded switch for distributed I/O topology (daisy chain)
    •   Wide operating temperature design for customer’s airflow cooling system

  • 5 years warranty

Products Used:

ioLogik E1200 Series

Ethernet remote I/O with 2-port Ethernet switch

UC-8100-ME-T Series

Arm Cortex-A8 1 GHz IIoT gateway with 1 mini PCIe expansion slot for a wireless module