Design of a Photovoltaic System

1
Design of a Photovoltaic System

• Scott Bresney
• Advisor Professor Wilk

2
Presentation Outline

• Background
• Photovoltaic Cells
• Types of Systems
• System Design
• System Design
• Data Collection
• Components Chosen
• Tilt Angle Analysis

3
What are Photovoltaics?

• Direct Conversion of Sunlight into Electricity
• Composed of Semiconductors - Silicon
• Light is absorbed by the atoms which knocks an
  electrons free
• The free electrons flow to form DC electricity
• Solar cells are arranged into solar modules

4
Types of Systems

• Direct Connected
• Grid Connected
• Battery Backup (Stand Alone)

5
Objectives

• Design a Photovoltaic System
• Optimize the System
• Obtain the Necessary Components
• Power a Real Load
• Monitor System Using Data Acquisition

6
Type of System Chosen

• Battery Backup System
• Electricity must be converted to AC with an
  inverter
• Continuously Draws from Batteries
• Charges batteries when producing more electricity
  than needed
• This system can stand on its own

Panel Array
Inverter
Batteries
Charge Controller
Load
7
Reason Chosen

• Union does not qualify for net metering
• Easily scaled up or down based on funding
• Possible to Purchase a Whole System
• Easy to Monitor for Learning Purposes

8
System Placement

• Will be Placed on top of the Utility Building
• A method for attaching the panels hasa already
  been installed
• Very little Shading
• Can point Due South
• Photo Courtesy of Matt Weber

9
Data Collection

• Data will be collected real-time from the system
• Can be used in future studies and experiments
• Will collect air temperature, panel temperature,
  sunlight intensity, current and voltage from
  system, wind speed, humidity

10
Components

• Panels
• Uni-Solar US-42
• 42 Watts, 16 Volts
• 3 Panels in Parallel
• Batteries
• Trojan T105
• 225 Amp-Hours
• 6 Volt
• 2 in Series to get 12 V
• Then 2 in Parallel to Store More Power

11
Components

• Charge Controller
• Xantrex/Trace C35
• 12 V, 35 Amp
• Inverter
• Xantrex XPower 700 Plus
• 12 V Battery Input
• Continuous AC Output 700 W

12
Components

• Panel Rack
• Two Seas Low Profile Ground/Roof Mount
• Holds 4 Panels
• Adjustable Tilt Angle
• Fixed Direction Due South

13
Component Summary

• 126 W Panel Array
• 12 V
• 550 Amp Hours Storage Capacity
• Can Handle Up to a 700 W Load
• Total Cost 1500

14
Analysis Reflect
15
Questions?