Modeling and Simulation of a Standalone Photovoltaic System
CHAPTER ONE
Aims and Objective of the Study
This thesis aims at maximization, optimization, and increase in efficiency of the photovoltaic solar system. Energy is central to national development and technological advancement in Nigeria; therefore it is pertinent to look into the energy maximization. Hence, the sole aim of this research is to develop a model that maximizes solar energy conversion. Other objectives of the work include:
- To develop a model for maximum energy
- To carryout performance evaluation on the developed
- To use the developed model to estimate the maximum power of a PV
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction to Renewable Energy System
In today’s world, energy is the main inspiration for socio-economic development. However, fossil fuel provides large percentage of world energy. Due to increase in environmental pollution from fossil fuel, renewable energy provides a significant interest to many researchers. This alternative power source is continuously becoming more popular since the realization of fossil fuels shortcomings [7, 8]. Renewable energy has been used to provide electricity for about 100 years [6]. The main forms of renewable energy are wind energy, hydro energy, biomass, geothermal energy, solar energy, etc [1]. These renewable forms of energy have no negative effect to environment [7].
Renewable Energy Forms
There are four main types of renewable energy. They are wind, photovoltaic, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy. Every year, the demand for electricity grows and to meet this increase in demand, countries have to decide what form of generation will provide reliable power that will fulfill the future need of the people. The public demand for the integration of renewable energy grows with every study on climate change. Fossil fuel power plants deliver the necessary electricity that can be raised or lowered to meet the demand, but produce byproducts that are harmful to the environment. The oldest forms of renewable energy that can harness the power of nature are wind turbines and hydroelectric power plants. Both forms have been used for hundreds of years to improve the quality of life for the people by using machines powered by nature. Photovoltaic energy has only been around a few decades, and came about through advancements in space program. The performances of the individual cells of a solar panel are steadily improving with newer advancements in semiconductor technology.
Wind Energy.
Converting the movement of air into electricity is the fastest growing supplier of renewable energy in developed countries [8]. Wind farms produce massive amounts of power that provide an environmentally friendly option to counteract the growing need for more fossil fuel plants. The drawbacks that hinder the expansion of wind turbines are the distance from turbines to the power grid, startup cost, inconsistency of wind speed, and visual aesthetics. Areas in the world that generate the most air flow are in remote locations that require running power lines hundreds of miles to reach the power grid where wind farms are located, therefore limiting the interest of researchers in the area of wind energy.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
Using a single silicon diode model, the PV cell may be represented in Fig.3.1. The PV cell is a single diode model which consists of a current source in parallel with a diode. The parameters required are short circuit current (Isc), open circuit voltage (Voc) and the diode ideality factor
(A) which depends on the semiconductor material used. The ideality factor of a diode is a measure of how closely the diode follows the ideal diode equation.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Introduction
In this chapter, the developed model will be analyzed, tested and verified. Here the primary function and the intended characteristic behavior of the model are analyzed. Matlab software will be used in the analysis and simulation and below are the simulation parameters used.
Simulation Parameters
- Equation 3.9 is the simulation model
- V is the module voltage[V].
- I is the module current [A].
- Iph Photocurrent [A], proportional to the irradiance [ɸ]
- Io is the Diode saturation current, I0= 0.07Amps depends on temperature[K]
- Rsis the Series resistance =[0.008Ω]
- Α is the Diode ideality factor (Α= 2 for Silicon and 1 for Germanium)
- Ƞ is the number of PV cell in series and it is 100 cells in this work to enable me simulate the P is the maximum power
- Vocis the open circuit voltage
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
Summary
Considering the simulation analysis carried out in chapter four on the developed model, simulation results obtained had shown that irradiation and temperature variations have very strong effect on the short circuit voltage and open circuit current. Since simulation has been performed on the model, at a certain temperature and irradiation condition, it can be said that this developed model could be used to test any PV module power system under any irradiation and temperature conditions. By using this model, the efficiency of the solar panel would be increased and will capture large amount of solar energy thereby increasing the efficiency of the non conventional energy source which is fruitful and reliable.
Achievement
At the end of this work, a working model was developed. The simulation result of the developed model has shown a better output performance. From the simulation result, maximum power was estimated.
Recommendation
Modeling of PV modules is one of the major components responsible for proper functioning of PV systems. Modeling provides the ways to understand the current, voltage, and power relationships of PV modules. However, the estimation of models is affected by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which ultimately influence the behavior of current and voltage. Therefore, perfect modeling is essential to estimate the performance of PV modules in different environmental conditions. Moreover, a single diode electrical equivalent circuit model was used for determination of PV cell characteristics and found that outputs of PV modules were strongly affected by the intensity of solar irradiation and ambient temperature. In most Africa countries, where the intensity of the sun varies, as a result bring changes in the temperature and solar irradiation. These constant changes in solar irradiation and temperature have strong effect on most of our mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline materials. There is still need for further work and researches on the diode crystal based on the constant parameter variation.
Conclusion
The current-voltage (I-V) and the power-voltage (P-V) characteristic curves obtained from the proposed model were used in the analysis. The variation of incident solar radiation and temperature were found to be the main cause of modifications in the amount of PV module power output. A linear relationship between the power output of PV module and the amount of incident solar radiation were observed if other factors were kept constant.
The model is found to be more practical in terms of the number of variables used and predicted satisfactory performance of PV modules.
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