Engineering Commons^™

Open Source Low-Cost Power Monitoring System, Shane W. Oberloier, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

This study presents an entirely open-source, low-cost power monitoring system capable of many types of measurements including both loads and supplies such as solar photovoltaic systems. In addition, the system can be fabricated using only open source software and hardware. The design revolves around the Digital Universal Energy Logger (DUEL) Node, which is responsible for reading and properly scaling the voltage and current of a particular load, and then serializing it via an on-board ATTiny85 chip. The configuration of the DUEL node allows for custom sensitivity ranges, and can handle up to 50 A and 300 V. Up to 127 …

Energy Payback Time Of A Solar Photovoltaic Powered Waste Plastic Recyclebot System, Shan Zhong, Pratiksha Rakhe, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

The growth of both plastic consumption and prosumer 3-D printing are driving an interest in producing 3-D printer filaments from waste plastic. This study quantifies the embodied energy of a vertical DC solar photovoltaic (PV) powered recyclebot based on life cycle energy analysis and compares it to horizontal AC recyclebots, conventional recycling, and the production of a virgin 3-D printer filament. The energy payback time (EPBT) is calculated using the embodied energy of the materials making up the recyclebot itself and is found to be about five days for the extrusion of a poly lactic acid (PLA) filament or 2.5 …

Fabricating Ordered 2-D Nano-Structured Arrays Using Nanosphere Lithography, Chenlong Zhang, Sandra Cvetanovic, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

Recent advances in the use of plasmonic metamaterials to improve absorption of light in thin-film solar photovoltaic devices has created a demand for a scalable method of patterning large areas with metal nanostructures deposited in an ordered array. This article describes two methods of fabricating ordered 2D nanosphere colloidal films: spin coating and interface coating. The two methods are compared and parameter optimization discussed. The study reveals that:

• For smaller nanosphere sizes, spin coating is more favorable, while for larger nanospheres, the angled interface coating provides more coverage and uniformity.

• A surfactant-free approach for interface coating is developed …

General Design Procedures For Airport-Based Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Anurag Anurag, Jiemin Zhang, Jephias Gwamuri, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

A source of large surface areas for solar photovoltaic (PV) farms that has been largely overlooked in the 13,000 United States of America (U.S.) airports. This paper hopes to enable PV deployments in most airports by providing an approach to overcome the three primary challenges identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): (1) reflectivity and glare; (2) radar interference; and (3) physical penetration of airspace. First, these challenges and precautions that must be adhered to for safe PV projects deployment at airports are reviewed and summarized. Since one of the core concerns for PV and airport symbiosis is solar panel …

Design Of Post-Consumer Modification Of Standard Solar Modules To Form Large-Area Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Roof Slates, Joshua M. Pearce, Jay Meldrum, Nolan Osborne

Joshua M. Pearce

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems have improved aesthetics but generally cost far more than conventional PV systems because of small manufacturing scale. Thus, in the short and medium term, there is a need for a BIPV mounting system that utilizes conventional modules. Such a design is provided here with a novel modification of conventional photovoltaic (PV) modules to allow them to act as BIPV roofing slates. The open-source designs for the mechanical components necessary to provide the post-consumer conversion for a conventional PV module are provided, and prototypes are fabricated and installed on a mock roof system along with control modules …

A Comprehensive Optimized Model For On-Board Solar Photovoltaic System For Plug-In Electric Vehicles: Energy And Economic Impacts, Mahmoud M. Abdelhamid

Mahmoud M Abdelhamid

Research And Development In Roof-Top Solar Potentiality Using Lidar Technology, Radhey Shyam Meena

Radhey Shyam Meena

Energy security and its application is the key for economic growth to any country and state. The conventional generation is also the source of greenhouse gas emission attributing to global warming and has has adverse impact on climate. Therefore, a global shift towards sustainable renewable energy generation is being witnessed. India is blessed with abundant solar energy and if harnessed efficiently, Solar energy is extremely beneficial as it is non polluting and its generation can be decentralized. The state of Rajasthan receives maximum solar radiation Intensity in India with very low average rainfall. It also has desert land available in …

Power Sharing Among Multiple Solar Photovoltaic (Pv) Systems In A Radial Distribution Feeder, Brian K. Perera, Philip Ciufo

Dr Philip Ciufo

With an increasing penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, power distribution grids are becoming more susceptible to network voltage rise. As per applicable standards for grid-integrated PV systems, a PV system must be automatically disconnected from the grid when the terminal voltage of the PV system exceeds a defined maximum voltage. With this directive, in certain situations, PV systems connected at nodes at which the voltage sensitivity is high, may be disconnected from the grid while PV systems connected at less sensitive nodes are continuing to operate. In such a situation, owners whose PV systems are connected at nodes at …

Power Quality Emission Assessment Of Photovoltaic Inverters Based On Iec Technical Report 61000-3-15:2011, Devinda Perera, Philip Ciufo, Lasantha G. Meegahapola, Sarath Perera

Dr Philip Ciufo

The International Electrotechnical Committee Technical Report IEC 61000-3-15:2011 provides electromagnetic compatibility requirements and test conditions for distributed generators up to 75 A per phase. In the current research, two commercially available photovoltaic (PV) inverters up to the capacity of 3600 W were tested following the guidelines proposed in IEC 61000-3-15 in relation to low order harmonic emission and flicker emission. In addition, the harmonic and flicker emission behaviour of the PV inverters were investigated under varying irradiation conditions. Both PV inverters were observed to comply with the emission requirements prescribed by the technical report under most conditions except for even …

Point Of Common Coupling (Pcc) Voltage Control Of A Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic (Pv) System, Brian K. Perera, Philip Ciufo, Sarath Perera

Dr Philip Ciufo

In future low voltage grids, with multiple inverter interfaced sources connected, voltage regulation may become a necessary task. The potential exists for inverter interfaced sources to be deployed to regulate the voltage at the point of common coupling (PCC) of each inverter interfaced sources. The PCC voltage regulation is attainable with inverter interfaced sources by dynamically controlling the amount of reactive power injected to the power distribution grid by individual systems. In the current research, a closed-loop controller is proposed to regulate the PCC voltage of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system that is connected to a single-phase power distribution feeder …

Optimal Design Of A Pv/Fuel Cell Hybrid Power System For The City Of Brest In France, Dr. Adel A. Elbaset

Dr. Adel A. Elbaset

This paper deals with the optimal design of a stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic and fuel cell power system without battery storage to supply the electric load demand of the city of Brest, Western Brittany in France. The proposed optimal design study is focused on economical performance and is mainly based on the loss of the power supply probability concept. The hybrid power system optimal design is based a simulation model developed using HOMER. In this context, a practical load demand profile of Brest city is used with real weather data.

Simulation Model Of A Grid-Connected Single-Phase Photovoltaic System In Pscad/Emtdc, Brian K. Perera, Sridhar R. Pulikanti, Philip Ciufo, Sarath Perera

Dr Philip Ciufo

In this paper, a complete simulation model of a grid-connected single-phase two-stage photovoltaic (PV) system with associated controllers is presented. The simulation model is developed in PSCAD/EMTDC simulation program. The component models of the grid-connected PV system include a PV array, a dc-dc boost converter, a voltage source converter (VSC) and an LCL filter. Components of the LCL filter, the dc-link capacitor of the VSC and the inductor of the dc-dc boost converter are established theoretically and that are used in modelling the grid-connected PV system. The control architecture of the presented system incorporates a synchronous reference frame phase-locked-loop (s-PLL), …

The Application Of Lidar To Assessment Of Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Deployment Potential In A Municipal District Unit, Ha T. Nguyen, Joshua M. Pearce, Rob Harrap, Gerald Barber

Joshua M. Pearce

Design, Modeling And Control Strategy Of Pv/Fc Hybrid Power System, Dr. Adel A. Elbaset

Dr. Adel A. Elbaset

This paper describes development of a general methodology of an autonomous PV/FC system composed of photovoltaic (PV), electrolyzer, hydrogen storage tank and fuel cell (FC). The aim of this paper is to determine optimum design, control strategy, economic and performance of a PV/FC hybrid power generation system without battery storage taking into account all losses in the system. The paper also presents a computer program based on Matlab software to determine optimum design, control strategy, economic and performance of an autonomous PV/FC hybrid power generation system. The computer program develops to size system components in order to match the load …

Dispatch Strategy And Model For Hybrid Photovoltaic And Trigeneration Power Systems, Amir Nosrat, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

Institutional-Scale Operational Symbiosis Of Photovoltaic And Cogeneration Energy Systems, M. Mostofi, A. H. Nosrat, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

Producer Responsibility And Recycling Solar Photovoltaic Modules, N. C. Mcdonald, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

Estimating Potential Photovoltaic Yield With R.Sun And The Open Source Geographical Resources Analysis Support System, H. T. Nguyen, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

Expanding Photovoltaic Penetration With Residential Distributed Generation From Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic Combined Heat And Power Systems, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce