An algorithm for determining the optimal moment to start recharging the accumulator battery in a diesel-photovoltaic power supply autonomous system

Currently, a problem related to the lack of centralized power supply in some regions of the Russian Federation is quite urgent. Existing technologies entail the use of diesel power plants, which are very expensive to maintain. In order to improve efficiency of such autonomous plants, this article suggests modernizing them by introducing photovoltaic systems and lead-acid batteries. For optimal functioning of these accumulator batteries, their specific features must be taken into account, along with possibilities of other power sources that make up parts of the power generating system. Thus, the automated system of control for such plants should have information obtained from various meteorological observations (data on insolation) and related to specific features of accumulator battery charges and discharges. This article offers a unique algorithm of determining an optimal moment to start charging an accumulator battery, which enables more efficient use of the generated energy to recover the state-of-charge of the electricity accumulator. According to the results of an efficiency assessment completed in Matlab regarding the use of this algorithm, fuel savings for an additional source (if it takes the form of a diesel power plant) reach 68.9% in the period of active insolation.