Engineering Commons^™

Reactive Power Considerations In Reliability Analysis Of Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Dattatray N. Gaikwad

LSU Master's Theses

Reliability is one of the key aspects of power system operation and therefore reliability analysis techniques are well developed. However reliability analysis conventionally takes into account active power and limited attention has been given to reactive power. Reactive power is very essential in maintaining voltage stability of power systems. The voltage constraint at network can restricts active power delivery to the loads and could result in forced load curtailment. This research investigates the effect of reactive power shortage on reliability of power systems with significant penetration of PV cells. The reactive power issues become more significant in distributed generation using …

Electrospun Polymer-Fiber Solar Cell, Shinobu Nagata

Theses and Dissertations

A study of fabricating the first electrospun polymer-fiber solar cell with MEHPPV is presented. Motivation for the work and a brief history of solar cell is given. Limiting factors to improvement of polymer solar cell efficiency are illustrated. Electrospinning is introduced as a technique that may increase polymer solar cell efficiency, and a list of advantages in the technique applied to solar cell is discussed. Results of electrospun polymer-fiber solar cell, absorption, and its device parameter diagnosis through an equivalent circuit analysis are presented.

Benefits Of Near-Term Cloud Location Forecasting For Large Solar Pv, Timothy Robert Rudd

Master's Theses

As the ‘green’ energy movement continues to gain momentum, photovoltaic generation is becoming an increasingly popular source for new power generation. The primary focus of this paper is to demonstrate the benefits of close-to real-time cloud sensing for Photovoltaic generation. In order to benefit from this close-to real-time data, a source of cloud cover information is necessary. This paper looks into the potential of point insolation sensors to determine overhead cloud coverage. A look into design considerations and economic challenges of implementing such a monitoring system is included. The benefits of cloud location sensing are examined using computer simulations to …

Design And Fabrication Of An Autonomous Solar Powered Airship, Mitchell Van Lee

Honors Theses

The purpose of the project was to design and build a prototype small scale photovoltaic (PV) powered autonomous airship. The principle reason for the construction of the unmanned airship was to investigate the possibility of using self-guided, lighter-than-air aircraft as an alternative to earth observational satellites for the purposes of terrain mapping and imaging. The necessary electrical energy was produced by single crystal photovoltaic solar cells. The airship was designed to carry an onboard battery in order to provide power generation in the case of intermittent cloud coverage. It was also designed to interface with an Arduino prototyping board which …

Solar Instrumentation Lab, Rene Canedo Iii, Rong Gui Chen

Electrical Engineering

This project is a mobile platform that will allow experiments on different solar panels to be done easily while keeping the cost of the lab to a minimum. California Polytechnic State University’s motto is ‘learn by doing’ and this lab structure will allow students to get practical experience with photovoltaic cells and the instruments that are required to take measurements. The solar instrumentation lab is a potential hardware lab for the electrical engineering department’s Sustainable Electric Energy Conversion class EE 420 and Solar-Photovoltaic Systems Design EE 520. This group took the current solar structure as a base for the lab’s …

Photovoltaic Emulator Adaptable To Irradiance, Temperature And Panel Specific I-V Curves, Joseph Gamos Durago

Master's Theses

This thesis analyzes the design and performance of a photovoltaic (PV) emulator. With increasing interest in renewable energies, large amounts of money and effort are being put into research and development for photovoltaic systems. The larger interest in PV systems has increased demand for appropriate equipment with which to test PV systems.

A photovoltaic emulator is a power supply with similar current and voltage characteristics as a PV panel. This work uses an existing power supply which is manipulated via Labview to emulate a photovoltaic panel. The emulator calculates a current-voltage (I-V) curve based on the user specified parameters of …

Free Space Optical Communications With High Intensity Laser Power Beaming, Daniel Edward Raible

ETD Archive

This research demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing high intensity laser power beaming (HILPB) systems as a conduit for robust free-space optical communications over large distances and in challenging atmospheric conditions. The uniqueness of vertical multi-junction (VMJ) photovoltaic cells used in HILPB systems in their ability to receive and to convert at high efficiency, very high intensity laser light of over 200 W/cm2, presents a unique opportunity for the development of the robust free space optical communication system by modulating information signals onto the transmitted high intensity photonic energy. Experiments were conducted to investigate and validate several optical communications concepts. A …

Effects Of Cloud-Induced Photovoltaic Power Transients On Power System Protection, Joel A. Nelson

Master's Theses

As the world strives towards finding alternative sources of power generation, photovoltaic generation has become an increasingly prevalent alternative energy source on power systems world-wide. This paper studies the effects that incorporating photovoltaic generation has on the existing power systems and their power system protection schemes. Along with the addition of this emerging alternative energy source comes the volatility of PV power generation as cloud-cover produces erratic variations in solar irradiance and PV power production. Such variations in PV power may lead to unfavorable operating conditions and power system failures. The issues addressed in this paper include a study of …

Designing A Photovoltaic System Hybrid For A Health Clinic In Camilo Ortega, Nicaragua, Jeremy Holliman

Electrical Engineering

As developing nations continue to foster the development of their technologies and economies, industrialized nations have taken an active approach in providing green and sustainable alternatives for them to consider. Non-profit organizations like Engineers Without Borders holds sustainable international development as paramount to all international projects that their student and professional chapters undertake. The Cal Poly Engineers Without Borders student chapter has implemented a variety of projects from slow sand filters to compressed earth blocks, and the Nicaragua team is in the process of designing a health clinic for the Camilo Ortega community. In order to power the health clinic, …

Determining A Reliability Factor For Photovoltaic's In San Luis Obispo, Ryan S. Roach

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

This project will analyze raw photovoltaic (PV) solar panel performance data in order to determine a reliability factor for solar panels in San Luis Obispo. This project is a subset of a larger project being performed by SLO RESCO, which is funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission. Their project will explore the use of solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass renewable resources. The scope of this project is limited to a small section of RESCO's analysis of solar panel technology and implementation in which a reliability factor will be generated.

The objective is to determine a reliability factor …

Green Organic Solar Cells From A Water Soluble Polymer And Nancrystalline Tio2, Qiquan Qiao

Theses and Dissertations

The cost of the present generation of inorganic silicon solar cells is very high and further breakthroughs in cost and efficiency using traditional materials are becoming less and less likely after over 50 years of development. Next generation organic solar cells offer a solution to the limitations of silicon through the vision of low-cost, liquid-based, large area fabrication technology based on polymer and nanomaterials at room temperature. However, most polymers used in solar cells are dissolved in organic solvents such as xylene, toluene, chloroform, and chlorobenzene. Such solvents are harmful to people and environments, leading to higher costs due to …

High Voltage Bias Testing And Degradation Analysis Of Photovoltaic Modules, Vinaykumar Hadagali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis mainly focuses on two important aspects of the photovoltaic modules. The first aspect addressed the high voltage bias testing and data and degradation analysis of high voltage biased thin film photovoltaic modules. The second aspect addressed the issues of reliability and durability of crystalline silicon module. Grid-connected photovoltaic systems must withstand high voltage bias in addition to harsh environmental conditions such as intermittent solar irradiance, high humidity, heat and wind. a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic modules with earlier generation SnO2:F transparent conducting oxide (TCO) on the front glass installed on the FSEC High Voltage Test Bed were monitored since December …

Preparation And Characterization Of Cigss Solar Cells And Pv Module Data Analysis, Jyoti Shirolikar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, multiple activities have been carried out in order to improve the process of CIGSS solar cell fabrication on a 4" x 4" substrate. The process of CIGSS solar cell fabrication at FSEC's PV Materials Lab involves a series of steps that were all carried out manually in the past. A LABVIEW program has been written to carry out automated sputter deposition of Mo back contact, CuGa, In metallic precursors on a soda lime glass substrate using a stepper motor control for better uniformity. Further, selenization/ sulfurization of these precursors was carried out using rapid thermal processing (RTP). …

Fpga-Based Design Of A Maximum-Power-Point Tracking System For Space A, Todd Persen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Satellites need a source of power throughout their missions to help them remain operational for several years. The power supplies of these satellites, provided primarily by solar arrays, must have high efficiencies and low weights in order to meet stringent design constraints. Power conversion from these arrays is required to provide robust and reliable conversion which performs optimally in varying conditions of peak power, solar flux, and occlusion conditions. Since the role of these arrays is to deliver power, one of the principle factors in achieving maximum power output from an array is tracking and holding its maximum-power point. This …