Design of a Mobile Photovoltaic Module System for Demonstration and Experimentation

Abstract

Recently, throughout the world, there is a special emphasis on the development of a photovoltaic industry. In fact, the solar photovoltaic (PV) is now, after hydro and wind power, the third most important renewable energy source in terms of globally installed capacity. The growth rate of the PV industry during 2011 increased by almost 70 percent, an outstanding level among all renewable technologies.Especially in Mexico, there is great potential for this kind of systems. In July 2007 the CRE (Energy regulation commission) published the grid connection contract. This contract opens the possibility of installing small solar PV systems connected to the grid (up to 10 kWp for residential applications and 30 kWp for industrial applications). This allowed for an important growth of the photovoltaic industry.Due to that important development of the PV industry, there is a need for engineers trained to design, install, and evaluate this kind of systems. The Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEMEX) offers a new engineering program related to the development of sustainable energy systems. This kind of engineering program requires special equipment for experimentation and practice. Part of this equipment is very expensive and is designed just for certain applications.Specialists at UAEMEX detected the need of a system to evaluate and demonstrate the application of PV modules, but they also found that most of the systems in the market are too small and are not capable of evaluating different arrangements.This paper sets forth the design of a mobile system to evaluate PV modules and arrangements. This system is useful, not only for demonstration practices, but also for experimentation with different materials and types of PV cells.The design allows the completion of 2 or 4 PV modules with different positions and inclination. Also, it is prepared to simulate some interferences and shadows on the modules in order to evaluate their effect. The prototype is equipment with a data acquisition system that will be used to obtain the PV module curves. Also, it will be used to evaluate the atmospheric and shadow effects on these modules. This prototype will be used to complement the learning of solar-PV systems, but also to meet the needs of basic science, math, and engineering teaching objectives in an integrated and hands-on way.A basic description of the design of the system proposed is set forth in this paper with a comparative analysis of the systems in the market. Finally, there is a summary of practices that may be performed with the equipment proposed.