Evaluation and optimisation of photovoltaic (PV) plant designs
| dc.contributor.advisor | Rix, Arnold J. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Gurupira, Tafadza L. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-02-23T10:19:54Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-04-09T06:58:40Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-02-23T10:19:54Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-04-09T06:58:40Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2018. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Factors such as the increasing energy demand, the depletion of fossil fuels and the push for more sustainable, less polluting energy sources have resulted in increased interest and investments in renewable energy sources worldwide. Among these renewable energy sources is solar photovoltaics (PV). PV is, however, riddled with several challenges of its own such as a lack of an e cient, integrated and holistic approach to the PV system design optimisation. Towards this end, the PV system design process is reviewed, and two optimisation frameworks are formulated and presented as potential solutions. Of particular interest was how applicable these frameworks would be in a South African context so two existing plants in the Northern Cape province of South Africa were adopted as test cases; one for the fixed tilt investigations and the other for the single-axis tracking investigations. A constrained minimisation algorithm was used to simultaneously evaluate various design variables to maximise the system total annual energy output, maximise the system's performance ratio and minimise system losses in the single objective optimisation problems. On the other hand, several design variables and objectives were simultaneously evaluated in the multi-objective optimisation cases and a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) procedure was used to rank the various alternative optimal PV system layouts to help select the most suitable layout for the given design scenario. The successful integration of the optimisation algorithms and a reputable solar PV system design tool led to faster execution of optimisation procedures and a more holistic approach to system design while ensuring PV system modelling accuracy, expansiveness and adaptability to several design scenarios. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is wêreldwyd 'n toenemende belangstelling in hernubare-energiebronne as gevolg van 'n hoër en stygende aanvraag na energie, asook die potensiële finansiële-winsgewendheid wat hierdie bronne aanbied vir beleggers. Verder voorsien hernubare-energie bronne ook die geleenthied om ons afhanklikheid vanaf besoedelende fossielbrandstowwe te verminder. Fotovoltaïese energie is onder andere een van hierdie hernubare energie bronne. Die proses van energieverskaffing, deur middel van fotovoltaïese aanlegte, bied egter nog na 'n paar uitdagings, soos byvoorbeeld 'n gebrek aan 'n optimale ge- ïntegreerde en holistiese benadering tot die ontwerp van fotovoltaïese stelsels. Met hierdie doel voor oë, word die ontwerp van die fotovoltaïese stelsel hersien, tesame met die verdere toepassing van twee optimerings-metodes. Dit was verder van groot belang om die toepassing van hierdie metodes in die konteks van Suid-Afrika te ondersoek. Daarom is twee bestaande Fotovoltaïese aanlegte in die Noord-Kaap as toetsgevalle gebruik; een aanleg is gebruik vir die ondersoek van 'n stasionêre-uitleg en die ander vir die ondersoek van 'n enkel-as-volger-uitleg. 'n Beperkte optimerings-algoritme is gebruik om gelyktydig verskeie ontwerpsveranderlikes te evalueer, sodat die totale jaarlikse energie gelewer, asook die stelsel se prestasieverhouding gemaksimeer word. Hierdie doelwitte, tesame met die vermindering van stelselverliese, is in ag geneem vir die enkel-doelwit-optimerings-probleme. Aan die ander kant was daar verskeie veranderlikes en doelwitte gelyktydig geëvalueer in die multidoelwitoptimerings- gevalle. 'n Multi-kriteria-besluitnemings-prosedure is gebruik om 'n rangorde toe te ken aan die verskillende optimale Fotovoltaïese stelsel uitlegte, om die mees geskikte uitleg vir die gegewe ontwerpsgevalle te vind. Die suksesvolle integrasie van die optimeringsalgoritmes, asook 'n betroubare Fotovoltaïese-stelsel-ontwerps-program, het gelei tot die spoedige uitvoering van die optimeringsproses, tesame met 'n meer holistiese benadering tot stelselontwerp. Die doelwitte gestel is almal beriek, asook die effektiwiteit aangaande die ontwerp van die fotovoltaïese modellering, skalering en aanpasbaarheid vir verskeie ontwerpsgevalle is aangespreek. | af_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 138 pages : illustrations | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/103499 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Plant design -- Evaluation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Photovoltaic power plants | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Optimisation . . . | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Evaluation and optimisation of photovoltaic (PV) plant designs | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |