In this paper new technique is developed to monitor the health status of the PV panels in the array. For finding the health status short circuit current is measured continuously over a fixed time period. This techniqu...In this paper new technique is developed to monitor the health status of the PV panels in the array. For finding the health status short circuit current is measured continuously over a fixed time period. This technique can classify the health status into four categories such as Healthy, Low Fault, Medium Fault and High Fault. By this classification faulty operation can be rectified and power generation may be improved. In case of high faults, PV panels can be protected. The cost requirement for the implementation is very low. The proposed technique is implemented in MATLAB Simulation and hardware. The array considered in this paper is 2 × 2 Series Parallel.展开更多
Today, many industrial and domestic electronic appliances and equipment (devices) are exposed to power disturbances such as voltage variations of the AC mains supply which often lead to damage of the electronic device...Today, many industrial and domestic electronic appliances and equipment (devices) are exposed to power disturbances such as voltage variations of the AC mains supply which often lead to damage of the electronic devices. As these devices are quite sensitive to power disturbances, there is a need for a tripping system that can help avoid any damage to devices in use. The objective of this work is to build a system that monitors line voltage and protects appliances from unacceptable voltage variations. The system consists of a tripping mechanism that monitors the input voltage and trips according to the limits provided. An Arduino Uno microcontroller is used to determine the voltage level through a voltage divider circuit. The system’s novelty and innovation lie in its flexibility. It offers the user the ability to define different overvoltage and undervoltage threshold values depending on the specific appliances used in the household. In operation, the system displays the voltage state (overvoltage, normal voltage, overvoltage) and alerts the user by sending an SMS via a GSM modem. The system is valuable for industrial and domestic applications, especially in developing economies such as those of Sub-Saharan Africa, where overvoltage and undervoltage are acute problems.展开更多
Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels degrades PV panels’ performance;leading to decreased power output and consequently high cost per generated kilowatt. Research addressing the severity of dust accumulation...Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels degrades PV panels’ performance;leading to decreased power output and consequently high cost per generated kilowatt. Research addressing the severity of dust accumulation on PV panels has been ongoing since the 1940s, but proposed solutions have tended to increase the cost of PV systems either from oversizing or from cleaning the system. The objective of this work, therefore, is to design and implement a low-cost affordable automated PV panel dust cleaning system for use in rural communities of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA);where financial resources are limited and significantly strained in meeting livelihood activities. Complete design and implementation details of a prototype system are provided for easy replication and capitalization on PV systems for sustainable energy needs. The system detects dust based on the innovative use of light-dependent resistors. Testing and observation of the system in operational mode reveal satisfactory performance;measured parameters quantify a power output increase of 33.76% as a result of cleaning dust off the PV panel used in the study.展开更多
To track the sun in two directions that is elevation and azimuth, a dual-axis tracking prototype is developed to capture the maximum sun rays by tracking the movement of the sun in four different directions. One axis ...To track the sun in two directions that is elevation and azimuth, a dual-axis tracking prototype is developed to capture the maximum sun rays by tracking the movement of the sun in four different directions. One axis is azimuth which allows the solar panel to move left and right. The other axis is elevation and allows the panel to turn up and down. The result of this new development provides the solar panels with extensive freedom of movement. This new approach will make use of the Light Depending Resistor (LDR) which is important to detect the sun light by following the source of the sun light location. AutoCAD software is being used to design the draft in 2-dimension (2D) for the hardware dual axis solar tacker. Sketch Up software is being used to sketch the drawing to be more real in 3-dimension (3D). Proteus software is being used to design the circuit for the Arduino UNO microcontrollers and H-BridgeIC chip. This implemented system can save more energy and probably offers more reduction in cost. The paper discusses the process of hardware development and the control process of tracking the sun, as well as the circuit design.展开更多
文摘In this paper new technique is developed to monitor the health status of the PV panels in the array. For finding the health status short circuit current is measured continuously over a fixed time period. This technique can classify the health status into four categories such as Healthy, Low Fault, Medium Fault and High Fault. By this classification faulty operation can be rectified and power generation may be improved. In case of high faults, PV panels can be protected. The cost requirement for the implementation is very low. The proposed technique is implemented in MATLAB Simulation and hardware. The array considered in this paper is 2 × 2 Series Parallel.
文摘Today, many industrial and domestic electronic appliances and equipment (devices) are exposed to power disturbances such as voltage variations of the AC mains supply which often lead to damage of the electronic devices. As these devices are quite sensitive to power disturbances, there is a need for a tripping system that can help avoid any damage to devices in use. The objective of this work is to build a system that monitors line voltage and protects appliances from unacceptable voltage variations. The system consists of a tripping mechanism that monitors the input voltage and trips according to the limits provided. An Arduino Uno microcontroller is used to determine the voltage level through a voltage divider circuit. The system’s novelty and innovation lie in its flexibility. It offers the user the ability to define different overvoltage and undervoltage threshold values depending on the specific appliances used in the household. In operation, the system displays the voltage state (overvoltage, normal voltage, overvoltage) and alerts the user by sending an SMS via a GSM modem. The system is valuable for industrial and domestic applications, especially in developing economies such as those of Sub-Saharan Africa, where overvoltage and undervoltage are acute problems.
文摘Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels degrades PV panels’ performance;leading to decreased power output and consequently high cost per generated kilowatt. Research addressing the severity of dust accumulation on PV panels has been ongoing since the 1940s, but proposed solutions have tended to increase the cost of PV systems either from oversizing or from cleaning the system. The objective of this work, therefore, is to design and implement a low-cost affordable automated PV panel dust cleaning system for use in rural communities of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA);where financial resources are limited and significantly strained in meeting livelihood activities. Complete design and implementation details of a prototype system are provided for easy replication and capitalization on PV systems for sustainable energy needs. The system detects dust based on the innovative use of light-dependent resistors. Testing and observation of the system in operational mode reveal satisfactory performance;measured parameters quantify a power output increase of 33.76% as a result of cleaning dust off the PV panel used in the study.
文摘To track the sun in two directions that is elevation and azimuth, a dual-axis tracking prototype is developed to capture the maximum sun rays by tracking the movement of the sun in four different directions. One axis is azimuth which allows the solar panel to move left and right. The other axis is elevation and allows the panel to turn up and down. The result of this new development provides the solar panels with extensive freedom of movement. This new approach will make use of the Light Depending Resistor (LDR) which is important to detect the sun light by following the source of the sun light location. AutoCAD software is being used to design the draft in 2-dimension (2D) for the hardware dual axis solar tacker. Sketch Up software is being used to sketch the drawing to be more real in 3-dimension (3D). Proteus software is being used to design the circuit for the Arduino UNO microcontrollers and H-BridgeIC chip. This implemented system can save more energy and probably offers more reduction in cost. The paper discusses the process of hardware development and the control process of tracking the sun, as well as the circuit design.
