Photovoltaic Training Course - Module 3.4 - plant security
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Photovoltaic Training Course - Module 3.4 - plant security
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Photovoltaic Training Course - Module 3.4 - plant security
- 1. Photovoltaic Systems Training Plant Operation 3.4 PLANT SECURITY www.leonardo-energy.org
- 2. Necessary • To avoid theft of expensive elements: inverters, panels, cable, etc • To avoid production losses (there are insurances which cover these losses) • To ensure rapid response to incidents at unattended sites, isolated areas or where communications are poor Solutions • No solution is perfect • Best fit: a combination of local staff and remote security systems Plant Security www.leonardo-energy.org
- 3. Plant Security Possible security solutions Local staff Video surveillance system (CCTV) Perimeter sensors Panel sewing Array controllers Infrared / Microwave controllers Security systems continuously evolve. So do thieves’ techniques www.leonardo-energy.org
- 4. Plant Security Real-time internet access Domestic video camera ADSL / GPRS Control room Optical Fiber Acoustic & Luminous Warning systems Real-time mobile phone access Local authority warning system Source: PYSEC Seguridad Night mode video cameras Intrusion detection Solar plant security system General Scheme
- 5. Plant Security Advantage Very dissuasive for intruders Drawbacks Most expensive solution (over the long term) May reduce plant profitability Options • Employees • Outsourcing Optimal solution A combination of Local Staff & Video surveillance www.leonardo-energy.org Local Staff
- 6. Source: Condev Video surveillance system CCTV vs IP CCTV Requires dedicated transmission buses IP - based • Versatility • Good quality • Good transmission • Less wiring Recommended IP System
- 7. D1 Quality - Full D1 video is 720x480. - Cropped D1 is 704x480. - Half D1 video is 352x480 Video Surveillance Systems Digital Video Recorder (Encoder/Decoder) D1 Real-Time Quality Great storage capacity Optional • Alarms & relays management • Remote control • Video analyzer • Requires specialized software • Expensive • Movement detection www.leonardo-energy.org
- 8. Video camera Captured image: IP or analog Quality: Up to D1 (real time) Optical Zoom: 60x Range: Up to 15 Km Optical Zoom: 60x Infrared Night viewing: (when risk of intruders is higher) Range: 1.5Km (0.00001 lux). PTZ Control Automatic or manual orientation & zoom control (Joystick). Video Surveillance System
- 9. Perimeter sensor system Best solution: Optical fiber • Passive system: immune to storms or electrical interference • False alarm discrimination • Alarm if the fiber is cut • Alarm if a movement is detected • Temperature range: -30º to 75º Options: • At the wall. More vulnerable • Buried. More expensive Movement/Passage areas Anti-Intrusion systems Rubber tube Metallic tube www.leonardo-energy.org
- 10. Anti-Intrusion systems www.leonardo-energy.org Presence sensor Detects: Infrared: thermal energy variations Microwaves: movements Configurable: Alarm only if double detection leads to problems in foggy areas Alarm if any detection leads to many false alarms
- 11. Panel sewing (with optical fiber) • Attached to every panel (at the rear) • Alarm if the fiber is cut • Temperature range: -30º a +75º Execution is difficult Conductive wire system • Dependent on the wire’s impedance • Immune to sabotage Anti-theft systems www.leonardo-energy.org
- 12. Array Controller Relatively new solution for both monitoring and security systems During the day • Controls the power (Current/Voltage) on the panel strings • Protects the plant with integrated fuses During the night • Detects if the electrical cable is cut/broken Even when there is no voltage or current Anti-theft systems www.leonardo-energy.org
- 13. Local alarm Siren, Lighting, Speakers Dissuasive Local staff SMS, E-Mail, Phone call To control, or to warn the authorities External authorities Private entity or public authorities Siren Study the inputs • Plant visibility • Distance to security service Options • To dissuade theft • To apprehend thieves Alarm management Consider the time/distance between the authorities and the plant www.leonardo-energy.org
- 14. Security Alternatives Virtual patrols Simulates a guard patrol, but from a remote surveillance center using video cameras Security for rooftop facilities Usually, no surveillance system is installed, as rooftop solar is usually located in urban areas. If the facility is in an isolated area or the rooftop is easy to access, security is recommended Comprehensive insurance is also recommended www.leonardo-energy.org
Editor's Notes
- This module looks at plant security during operation.
- There is no perfect solution that guarantees the security of a solar plant. The best solution combines both local staff and remote security systems. A PV facility contains many expensive elements and there is therefore the constant threat of theft or robbery. That is the main reason to install security systems. The effects of theft is not just the cost of replacing what is stolen. It will also, most likely, result in production losses. Particularly for systems installed in isolated areas with long unattended periods, a good security system is essential.
- Here is a list of possible security systems that could be used. The first is local staff, then we have the video surveillance, perimeter sensors, panel sealing, array controllers, infrared controllers and microwave movement detectors. During the next slides we will study all of these systems.
- Here we have a scheme of a solar plant security system with all the devices that could be installed to increase security. We go through the devices in the next slides.
- Local staff are usually the most important element in the security system. Having people about is the most discouraging sight for potential thieves. There is the option of hiring your own staff or bringing in a security service company. The biggest drawback is the expense. It can have quite an impact on plant profitability.
- More and more solar plants have installed video surveillance as the technology has improved and the price has dropped. There is a choice between closed circuit TV solutions and those using internet protocols. Closed circuit is an older technology that requires a dedicated transmission bus. It is often more expensive than an IP-based solution. In fact, IP-based solutions are to be recommended. They provide good quality and good transmission nowadays with less need for wiring and therefore less cost.
- Many video surveillance system come with integrated devices that work as both an encoder and a decoder of the video system, while also allowing the addition of alarms and relays so that the PV facility can be monitored and controlled remotely. These systems normally also integrate a greater storage capacity, and allow the addition of a range of devices to do the different tasks. Commercial solutions that integrate all devices are not so expensive nowadays, work well and are to be recommended. It is possible to build in video analysers that use specialized software to detect movement in the vicinity of the solar plant. The only disadvantage is that this kind of system remains rather expensive. A cost-benefit analysis should be carried out before the system is installed.
- Today’s video cameras routinely offer zooms of 60X, giving the user a range of several km. They also come with infrared technology for night recordings within a range of 1.5km. However, solar plant designers tell us that the effective night range of the infrared systems on offer is no more than 150 meters.
- There are a number of anti-intruder systems on the market, but the most important ones are the perimeter-pressure systems and the presence sensors. Perimeter sensor systems activate an alarm if movement is detected at the boundaries of the PV facility. These kinds of sensors can be installed on the fence, which may be more vulnerable, or buried underground, which is better but also more expensive. The best solutions in the market use optical fibre. They are unaffected by storms or electrical systems and can withstand great temperature ranges. They can discriminate between false and genuine alarms or detect if the fibre has been cut. At the bottom right of the slide, you see the recommended method for installing these systems.
- A presence sensor detects both thermal energy variations and movements by integrating infrared and microwave technologies. These kinds of systems are quite difficult to configure as they are only activated if both thermal variations and movement are detected. Problems may occur in fog or during the hours of darkness. It is possible to configure these systems to send an alarm if just one of the two variations is detected. But that might produce a lot of false alarms. Despite the difficulties configuring these systems and despite the large numbers of false alarms, the systems are effective at discouraging intrusions.
- A panel sequence is a wire attached to every panel in the solar facility – often an optical fibre is used. If the fibre is cut, an alarm is triggered. There is also a variation that uses an electric current, but some of the thieves already understand that technology and can sabotage or bypass it to steal from the solar plant. If a panel sequence system is part of your plans, the optical fibre solution is the recommended option.
- With an array controller, you can control the power produced by the panels on a daily basis and also use it for the monitoring system. It offers added value because its integrated fuses provide an additional layer of plant system protection. During the night an array controller can detect cuts or breaks in the electrical cabling – even where there is no voltage or current. These are relatively new systems, so you should look carefully at the costs.
- it is important to install local alarms that sounds when a monitoring or security system incident occurs. It instantly draws local staff’s attention to incidents and lighting or sirens are extremely effective at discouraging intruders. Text messages that follow a security incident, requesting local police or other authorities to attend the solar plant, are increasingly common. The best alarm solutions will vary, depending on the plants, accessibility, visibility and distance from any security support. The choice will be whether you want to alert the authorities or dissuade intruders – or possibly a combination of both.
- A relatively new security option is known as virtual patrols. The security system is outsourced to a surveillance agency who may install video all over the facility. The cameras enable them to patrol the solar plant remotely and notify the authorities whenever there is cause for security concerns. Virtual patrols may combine with actual patrols as a means of dissuading intruders. Where rooftop systems are remote or are easily accessible, a security system is recommended. Whether the PV is housed on a rooftop or mounted on the ground, the system owners should invest in comprehensive insurance against risk. The insurance should cover them for both theft of materials and production losses due to thefts or maintenance issues.