Solar Panel Array Research Articles

A Novel Bidirectional DC–DC Converter with Low Stress and Low Magnitude Ripples for Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Power Systems

Photovoltaic (PV) power is one of the promising solutions to address the fast-growing electricity demand. Electricity generated from the array of solar panels is not fixed due to the continuous change in environmental conditions. Therefore, an efficient power management system is required to facilitate the consumer with an uninterruptable power supply (UPS). When the energy demand is lower than the energy generated by the PV power system, the excessive energy must be stored in batteries and, when the energy demand is higher than the energy generated by the PV system, then the stored energy in the battery must be released in order to fulfil the load demand. Therefore, a bidirectional DC–DC converter is required to store and release energy. Conventional bidirectional converters offer low gain, low power density, low efficiency, high switching stress, and high magnitude of current and voltage ripples. In this paper, a bi-directional DC–DC converter that has low stress and low ripples is proposed for the operation of Stand-alone PV power systems. The proposed converter is implemented in ORCAD/PSPICE (Oregon Computer Aided Design/Personal Computer Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit) and both the charging and discharging modes have been analyzed explicitly. The results were compared with conventional converters and were found to be satisfactory. A significant improvement in the magnitude of output voltage and current ripples has been noticed. Besides, considerable improvement in switching stress (45% reduction as compared with conventional converters) and a 16.6% reduction in the magnitude of ripples was realized.

IEEE Smart Village Launches SunBlazer IV and Smart Portable Battery Kits: Empowering Remote Communities

IEEE Smart Village (ISV) developed the first-generation SunBlazer in 2010 as a mobile charging station for portable battery kits (PBKs). These kits enabled people in remote villages to provide power for basic lighting, cell-phone charging, and small appliances. Now, 10 years and three design iterations later, ISV demonstrates its continuing penchant for innovation with the SunBlazer IV and Smart PBK technology, developed as more versatile options for the on-going mission to empower off-grid communities around the world. This fourth-generation equipment is lightweight, modular, rugged, easy to transport and install, and adaptable to a multitude of uses. The kit includes a controller and battery charger in a selfcontained shipping container, which, along with the simplified expandable solar panel with an A-frame design, makes for easier setup in remote areas. The modular design of the SunBlazer IV (Figure 1) allows users to raise the peak power from 1.5 kWp, the peak power of a threesolar-panel base system, to up to 3.7 kWp by extending the A-frame solar panel array. Larger arrays can be created by cascading systems together.

Autonomous Deployment of a Solar Panel Using Elastic Origami and Distributed Shape-Memory-Polymer Actuators

Deployable mechanical systems such as space solar panels rely on the intricate stowage of passive modules, and sophisticated deployment using a network of motorized actuators. As a result, a significant portion of the stowed mass and volume are occupied by these support systems. An autonomous solar panel array deployed using the inherent material behavior remains elusive. In this work, we develop an autonomous self-deploying solar panel array that is programmed to activate in response to changes in the surrounding temperature. We study an elastic "flasher" origami sheet embedded in a circle of scissor mechanisms, both printed with shape memory polymers. The scissor mechanisms are optimized to provide the maximum expansion ratio while delivering the necessary force for deployment. The origami sheet is also optimized to carry the maximum number of solar panels given space constraints. We show how the folding of the "flasher" origami exhibits a bifurcation behavior resulting in either a cone or disk shape both numerically and in experiments. A folding strategy is devised to avoid the undesired cone shape. The resulting design is entirely 3D printed, achieves an expansion ratio of 1000% in under 40 seconds, and shows excellent agreement with simulation prediction both in the stowed and deployed configurations.

Wind loads for designing ground-mounted solar-panel arrays

ABSTRACTNet wind pressures acting across solar panels were obtained by testing 1/20 scale models in a range of typical array configurations in the wind tunnel. This paper presents data for a typical panel array configuration inclined at α = 20°. Large net negative (upward) pressures were measured on the panels at the leading edges for wind blowing towards the bottom surface of the sloping panels. Shielding from upwind arrays was negligible. Large net positive (downward) pressures were measured on the panels at the bottom leading edge for wind blowing towards the top surface of the sloping panels. Aerodynamic shape factors on the panels and arrays are given in a form that has been proposed in the revision of the Australian/New Zealand wind loading standard AS/NZS 1170.2.

Wave-based motion and slewing control of a double-appendage, flexible system with ungrounded actuator through development of direct actuator force control

Abstract Wave-based control is a relatively new approach which has already been applied successfully to control a range of under-actuated, flexible mechanical systems, such as robots and cranes, through a rest-to-rest manoeuvre after it identifies, then measures and finally exploits the propagation time delay effects inherent in flexible systems. In this technique, the actuator motion is directly controlled in a way that, simultaneously, indirectly controls the motion of the attached flexible systems, thereby combining position control and active vibration damping. A significant development of this strategy is here presented, in which the directly controlled actuation variable is force (or torque) rather than position or motion, as before. This new formulation is particularly relevant for motion control of systems whose actuators are not grounded, such as spacecraft, with thrusters, reaction wheels or magnetic torquers, where the natural, actuator input variable is a force or torque, to be specified by the control law (rather than actuator motion). This development considers a real (non-ideal) actuator with significant inertia and thus associated time delay in responding to input signals. The new control design approach is presented, and applied to planar, translation and rotation (slewing) of an approximate model of a spacecraft having two flexible appendages, representing for example, solar panel arrays or antennas, modelled as systems of lumped masses and springs, with (possibly) different appendages on one spacecraft. Despite the dynamic complexity of the multiple attached flexible arrays, having many degrees of freedom, with complex vibration modes, and use of a non-ideal, ungrounded actuator, the proposed control strategy can achieve precise motion control, whether translation, rotation or both, while actively suppressing vibrations of the flexible appendages.

Análisis del uso de micro convertidores DC/DC enfocados en la extracción máxima de energía en una granja fotovoltaica

Este trabajo presenta un estudio amplio del trabajo publicado en la revista INCISCOS 2018 títulado “Improving of the Photovoltaic High Power Plant Generation Using DC/DC Micro Converters”;está enfocado en incrementar la cantidad de energía eléctrica generada de una Planta Fotovoltaica ubicada en Salinas, provincia de Imbabura-Ecuador, mediante la inclusión de micro convertidores DC/DC en los arreglos de los paneles fotovoltaicos y a partir de la implementación de una adecuada técnica de seguimiento del punto de máxima potencia. Los resultados indican que la inserción de los convertidores DC/DC en el sistema provocan un aumento en la cantidad de energía activa. Se realiza el análisis tanto con variaciones de la radiación solar como cambios en la temperatura ambiente.

Life cycle and economic assessment of a solar panel array applied to a short route ferry

This paper was to investigate the potential benefits of solar panel systems if applied for obtaining propulsion power of a short route ferry operating in the Marmara Sea. The life cycle assessment was applied to evaluate the long-term environmental impact of the solar power systems on-board in replace of conventional diesel engine systems. The cost and benefit of such systems were evaluated through the economic assessment where the life cycle cost relative to installation, operation and recycling of the solar panels, fuel savings and payback time were considered. Research findings revealed the payback time would be around three years, whereas the accumulative fuel cost saving would be over $300,000 by the end of vessel life. The sensitivity analysis using two varying parameters - energy efficiency and investment cost - implied, that the longer payback time would be positively associated with lower energy efficiencies and higher investment costs. It was also suggested that the marginal cost of the carbon credit should be $ 190 per tonne or higher to make the shipping business successful.

Low-cost automatic multi-axis solar tracking system for performance improvement in vertical support solar panels using Arduino board

Solar irradiation is a green and sustainable renewable energy source which is largely harnessed through photovoltaic and thermal cell surfaces. It is one of the fastest growing clean power technologies with high-global growth figures, due to its simplicity, affordability and abundant availability. Solar power systems is one of the fastest growing interventions augmenting fossil power and its application is now expanding beyond domestic utilization to commercial and industrial dependence. Due to continuous change in the position of the sun together with other salient factors, only a fraction of the suns energy potential is harnessed. The paper is focused on sharing an optimization option that has effectively addressed a major gap experienced in conventional solar power system installation as applicable to light emitting diodes traffic light systems. The continuous movement of the sun limits maximum sun light irradiation absorption and solar trackers are practical solutions to this drawback. The high cost of solar trackers has however been the major limitation to their adoption. The Introduction of microcontroller-based solar tracking systems using Arduino board was found to be cost effective, and it improved the efficiency of the solar cells significantly. In the study, the maximum power point tracking algorithm was designed and developed using multiple-axis servo-motor feedback tracking system, which increased the efficiency of the solar panel array by 23.95%.

Dynamics Analysis of Weathercock like Passive Sun-oriented Control Using Solar Pressure

This paper proposes a novel passive sun-oriented control using the solar radiation pressure torque. Satellites that solar array panels are allocated as an umbrella is assumed. The top of the umbrella is oriented to the sun direction by the sun pressure and its weathercock stability. In order to dump the oscillation, a reflectance control device is attached on the solar array panels. The method realizes the sun-oriented without any other attitude control devises in the satellite. The availability of the method is evaluated in case of a solar-sail type spacecraft, a 50cm-class LEO satellite, and a 1U CubeSat by numerical simulations. Furthermore, a combination of the proposed control and the other passive attitude control is discussed.

Influences of dust deposition on ground-mounted solar photovoltaic arrays: A CFD simulation study

Dust deposition processes and behaviors on ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays were investigated by shear stress transport k-ω turbulence model and the discrete particle model. Inlet velocity and turbulent kinetic energy distributions fitted from experimental data were imposed in the simulation to improve prediction accuracy. After mesh independent test and numerical verification, air flow fields over the solar PV array, dust deposition rates for different rows of PV panels and different dust diameters were investigated. It was found that dust deposition rates on solar PV panel array are declined from the front to the back row. Maximum deposition rate from the first to the fifth row of PV panels is 18.89%, 12.35%, 9.62%, 6.83% or 5.71% respectively. The corresponding dust diameter for the peak deposition rate is 350, 250, 200, 150 or 150 μm respectively. The main deposition mechanisms were investigated by analyzing dust motion trajectories on PV panel arrays. Furthermore, Maximum PV output reduction induced by dust can reach 79.77%, 18.16%, 5.88%, 2.66% or 1.89% from the first to the last row of PV panels, respectively. Therefore, the most degradation of PV efficiency appears for the first row of PV panels.

Online adaptive master maximum power point tracking algorithm and sensorless weather estimation

This paper presents analysis aspects for photovoltaic (PV) cells. Starting from reducing the number of needed I–V points to extract the parameters of the double diode PV model based on two different stochastic algorithms. Then, the identified model is analyzed to find informative and detailed sensitivities of the main outputs of the PV cell to cell temperature and solar irradiance. These formulations can work as a master algorithm to check, update and accelerate the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms. Besides that, model uncertainties and variations in the parameters are considered to represent a new accurate MPPT algorithm in one straightforward step. An improved online adaptation to the fractional open circuit voltage and fractional short circuit current MPPT algorithms are presented as examples of the proposed one-step online MPPT algorithm. As a result, different sensorless estimators of the temperature and the irradiance are presented to replace the actual weather sensors with high accuracy. The proposed work is done for four PV cells to show the importance of this comprehensive analysis. Experimental work is carried out using a 100W (PS-M36s) solar panel and Altera DE2-115 field programmable gate array development board in the-loop verification environment to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure.

Structural performance and photothermal recovery of carbon fibre reinforced shape memory polymer

The shape memory polymers (SMPs) have an interesting capability of keeping a temporary shape and then recovering the original shape when subject to a particular external stimulus. However, due to SMP's relatively low mechanical properties, the use of SMP in a wider range of engineering applications is limited. As such SMPs need to be reinforced before use in engineering applications. This paper presents the mechanical properties, thermomechanical characteristics, photothermal behaviour and light activation of 0/90 woven carbon fibre reinforced shape memory epoxy composite (SMPC) made out of prepreg material. Prepreg is a widely used manufacturing technique for large-scale engineering applications. The experimental results have demonstrated that the structural performance of the SMPC has increased significantly due to carbon fibre reinforcement as anticipated. According to ASTM standard D 3039/D 3039M-00, the mode of tensile failure was identified as “XMV”, where the failure is an explosive type. The dynamic mechanical analysis has revealed that the shape fixity and recovery ratios of the SMPC are 100% and 86% respectively. Under the constrained condition, the stress has been recovered up to 5.24 MPa. The SMPC was exposed to five different power densities of 808 nm and the resultant activation has been systematically investigated. Interestingly, the SMPC has been heated over its glass transition temperature, once it is exposed to a power density of 1.0 W/cm2. Furthermore, the applicability of carbon fibre reinforced SMPC for a deployable solar panel array, intended for remote and localized activation is demonstrated. The SMPC will be a potential candidate for space engineering applications, because of its enhanced mechanical properties and ability of photothermal activation.

CFD Simulation of Turbulent Wind Effect on an Array of Ground-Mounted Solar PV Panels

Aim of the present study is to determine the wind loads on the PV panels in a solar array since panels are vulnerable to high winds. Extensive damages of PV panels, arrays and mounting modules have been reported the world over due to high winds. Solar array of dimension 6 m × 4 m having 12 PV panels of size 1 m × 2 m on 3D 1:50 scaled models have been simulated using unsteady solver with Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations of computational fluid dynamics techniques to study the turbulent wind effects on PV panels. A standalone solar array with 30° tilt angle in atmospheric surface layer with the Renormalized Group (RNG) turbulence closure subjected to incident wind varied from − 90° to 90°. The net pressure, drag and lift coefficients are found to be maximum when the wind is flowing normally to the PV panel either 90° or − 90°. The tilt angle of solar arrays the world over not vary on the latitude but also on the seasons. Keeping this in mind the ground mounted PV panels in array with varying tilt angle from 10° to 60° at an interval of 10° have been analyzed for normal wind incident i.e. 90° and − 90° using unsteady RNG turbulence model. Net pressure coefficients have been calculated and found to be increasing with increase in array tilting angle. Maximum net pressure coefficient was observed for the 60° tilted PV array for 90° and − 90° wind incident having value of 0.938 and 0.904 respectively. The results can be concluded that the PV panels are subjected to significant lift and drag forces under wind loading, which needs to be quantified with sufficient factor of safety to avoid damages.

High Dynamic Performance Solar Array Simulator Based on a SiC MOSFET Linear Power Stage

The power conditioning unit system is a critical part in a spacecraft and is responsible for converting the solar panel energy into a stable bus voltage. This system requires a high dynamic characteristic solar array simulator (SAS) for testing purposes. Space solar array simulators (SSASs) used for testing space power systems generally use a linear power topology because of its fast dynamic performance and good simulation accuracy. However, commercially available SASs are not sufficiently fast for simulating the actual solar array panel output and, therefore are unreliable for terrestrial testing. In this paper, a highly dynamic SSAS is developed with multipath SiC MOSFET linear voltage-controlled current source paralleling for power regulation. The proposed 510 W SSAS, consisting of 20 linear current paths paralleling the power stage and a high-speed FPGA digital controller, can quickly react to a load step between the nominal and short circuit at 50-kHz stepping frequency. It can also react to a step change from a short circuit to an open circuit perfectly at a 1-kHz stepping frequency offering a superior dynamic performance compared to other similar devices.

Supercapacitors in Tandem with Batteries to Prolong the Range of UGV Systems

The purpose of this study was to explore a novel approach to power hybridization in relation to its effectiveness in an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). This hybridization method is modeled after the power distribution methods found in living organisms, which utilize glycogen stores and adipose tissue to optimize power and energy density strengths and weaknesses. A UGV rover was constructed with an appropriate distribution of power storage elements creating separate power buffers. The primary buffer consisted of a 10 W solar panel array and a 600 F, 5.4 V supercapacitor bank, and the secondary buffer consisted of a 3.7 V 6 Ah lithium-ion battery pack. The primary buffer provided virtually limitless charge cycles with a superior power density juxtaposed with a secondary buffer that provided superior energy density and volumetric versatility. The design of this rover is presented in this paper; it was tested under manual and autonomous modes. The rover was found to be capable of effectively operating solely on the primary power buffer in high to low luminous conditions while being able to carry out basic extravehicular activities. The rover could travel roughly 22 km without any input power on a full charge of both buffers, and could smoothly switch between its own power buffers during operation, all while transmitting live first person video (FPV) and network data. The introduction of control algorithms on the onboard microcontroller unit (MCU) was also explored in both manual and autonomous configurations. The latter integrated linear regression to intelligently manage power and locomotion based on sensory data from photoresistors.

Decisions on an Impulse: Kassalen Gets in on the Ground Level [Women to Watch

The Solar Impulse 2 airplane cuts a graceful silhouette. It has a slim singleseat cockpit with two propellers on either side, all below a lanky 236-ft wing. Look at the wing from above, and you'll see the array of solar panels laid out along its top. In 2016, this solar airplane made its way around the world without fuel in 17 legs that stretched through day and night, including a five-day, five-night recordbreaking flight from Japan to Hawaii. The mission: use adventurous Jules-Verneesque derring-do to spread the message that everybody could use the same technologies on the ground to halve our world's energy consumption, save natural resources, and improve our quality of life.

Renewable Energy Potential of Kazakhstan

2017 is the year when the capital of Kazakhstan Astana is hosting the EXPO2017 “Future Energy” conference. It is interesting to consider how Kazakhstan is developing renewable energy usage. Kazakhstan with its huge territory and not very large population is having great potential for renewable energy production. Most of the territory has sufficient amount for solar energy harvest and also large amount of area with high speed of wind, which has large potential to produce sufficient amount of wind energy. Areas such as Jungar Gates and Chylyk Corridor have a huge potential for the production of energy by wind turbines. The part of Kazakhstan between the Balkhash Lake and Aral Sea is not very populated due to shortage of water. At the same time this area has a very high level of solar irradiation. It is possible to harvest there a large amount of solar energy if it would have many solar panel arrays installed. The problem difficult to overcome would be the maintenance of these solar panel arrays due to low population and pure living conditions. There are at least two major reasons to go for renewable energy development in the country. First one – Kazakhstani leadership is looking into opportunities to change from a resource economy (it is one of the oil producing countries – it has more than 2% of the world oil reserve and many other resources) to a technology driven one. In this case resources will be used to produce different products. Due to that, one of the challenges is to move from fossil fuel driven energy production to alternative sources and the potential is there. Another stimulus is that Kazakhstan is the country which has joined to Kyoto protocol and Paris agreement. Thus, Kazakhstan tends to reduce greenhouse effect and also Kazakhstan is going towards the generation of energy from alternative sources. The government of the country is developing the legislation in direction to encourage producers and users to increase share of alternative sources for energy generation in Kazakhstan. It provides users with benefits if they supply energy produced by alternative sources to the grid with preferable rates.

Integration of Specular Reflector in a Dual Axis Solar Tracker

In the Philippines, the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of residential and commercial buildings has increased in popularity. Even if the country has high solar insolation, energy conversion is still inefficient since the solar panel arrays are not always facing in perpendicular to the sun. Technologies related to increasing the solar panel efficiency such as solar trackers are usually complex and expensive. This problem is addressed by designing a low cost dual axis solar tracker with the integration of specular reflector system. The dual axis tracker system can move the panel and the reflector assembly in a precise and controlled manner to ensure maximum output. This was achieved by using a LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) compass assembly, gear system, and stepper motor mechanism. To measure the solar panel output, a voltage sensing circuit was incorporated instead of using the existing optical and time-based techniques. The system performance was tested in both the controlled and the actual environments. Experimental data have shown that when the panel is perpendicular to the light source, the system yields maximum energy. The need for a tracking and planar reflector system is notably important when the light source moves away from the normal because this results to a significant drop of the panel’s average efficiency. The addition of the tracker alone had greater enhancement effect than with the specular reflector only. The tracker boosts the efficiency by 69.55% while the specular reflector boosts it by only 15.12%. Combining the tracker and the specular reflector yields the best result with a 92.33% boost on the average efficiency.

Large Prefabricated Concrete Panels Collective Dwellings from the 1970s: Context and Improvements

The period between 1960s and 1970s had a significant impact in Romania on the urban development of major cities. Because the vast expansion of the industry, the urban population has massively increased, due the large number of workers coming from the rural areas. This intense process has led to a shortage of homes on the housing market. In order to rapidly build new homes, standard residential project types were erected using large prefabricated concrete panels. By using repetitive patterns, such buildings were built in a short amount of time through the entire country. Nowadays, these buildings represent 1.8% of the built environment and accommodate more than half of a city’s population. Even though these units have reached only half their intended life span, they fail to satisfy present living standards and consume huge amounts of energy for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting. Due to the fact that these building are based on standardised projects and were built in such a large scale, the creation of a system that brings them to current standards will not only benefit the building but also it will significantly improve the quality of life within. With the transition of the existing power grids to a “smart grid” such units can become micro power plants in future electricity networks thus contributing to micro-generation and energy storage. If one is to consider the EU 20-20-20 commitments, to find ideas for alternative and innovative strategies for further improving these building through locally adapted measures can be seen as one of the most addressed issues of today. This research offers a possible retrofitting scenario of these buildings towards a sustainable future. The building envelope is upgraded using a modular insulation system with integrated solar cells. Renewable energy systems for cooling and ventilation are integrated in order to provide flexibility of the indoor climate. Due to their small floor area, the space within the apartments is redesigned for a more efficient use of space and an improved natural lighting. Active core modules are placed on top of the unused attics and a solar panel array is introduced. Furthermore accessibility issues are addressed by facilitating access for disabled people and implementing an elevator system that currently these building do not have.

Computational evaluation of wind loads on sun-tracking ground-mounted photovoltaic panel arrays

Computational fluid dynamics is employed to evaluate the mean wind loads on sun-tracking ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panel arrays. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations are performed using a finite volume-based numerical method. The mean turbulent flow around the panel is simulated by following two different approaches, by considering either the full three-dimensional model or the reduced model with periodic boundary conditions in the spanwise homogeneous direction. The periodic model is demonstrated to well reproduce the aerodynamics of the panel with a considerable reduction of the computational cost. The wind loading history due to the continuous rotation of the system is directly simulated by means of the dynamic meshing technique, which allows for a further savings of computational resources with respect to static calculations.