An In-Situ system for PV module performance monitoring
| dc.contributor.advisor | Strauss, Johann M. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Pandy, Tashriq | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-02-21T08:21:27Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-04-17T08:06:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-09-30T03:00:13Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2019. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a global pursuit to improve the efficiency of energy generation due to the increasing global demand for energy, limited resources and the global trend towards alternative energy. While the photovoltaic (PV) industry is experiencing continuous growth, there are many challenges that come with effectively managing PV systems. Various studies have shown that increasing levels of PV plant monitoring can increase energy yield and lower downtime. However, at the same time this significantly increases the initial capital cost that in turn could detrimentally influence cost competitiveness and feasibility. In this thesis, an in-situ PV monitoring system using perturbation techniques to effectively monitor PV systems is proposed. The monitoring system consists of a PV module monitoring device, a perturbation device (incorporated in the monitoring device) and a data acquisition device. The PV monitoring device captures PV module temperature and I-V data simultaneously during perturbation at a pre-set interval. A wireless sensor network is then used to send the captured data to the data acquisition device. The perturbation device utilises two techniques. These perturbation techniques temporarily apply different intensity levels of oscillation by applying two different switching topologies of an inductor and a capacitor. The oscillations temporarily perturb the operating point of the PV module to shift back and forth along the characteristic I-V curve at a fast-enough rate to not influence the PV system operation. If the intensity of the oscillations is enough to pass the knee point on the I-V curve, then the maximum power point of the PV module can be determined. The effectiveness of the monitoring system was firstly simulated and then experimentally verified while operating the PV modules at different operating points on the I-V curve. It is concluded that the one perturbation approach that introduces greater oscillations can best identify the maximum power point of the PV module, including when the PV module is operated far away from the maximum power point. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is ’n wêreldwye strewe om die benuttingsgraad van energieomsetting te verhoog as gevolg van die toenemende aanvraag vir energie, beperkte hulpbronne en die wêreldwye tendens in die rigting van alternatiewe energie. Terwyl die fotovoltaïese industrie deurlopende groei ervaar, is daar nog baie uitdagings in die effektiewe bestuur van fotovoltaïese aanlegte. Verskeie studies het al getoon dat verhoogde vlakke van monitering van fotovoltaïese aanlegte kan lei tot verhoogte energieopbrengs en minder aftyd. Dit verhoog egter terselfdertyd die aanvanklike kapitale koste wat weer ’n nadelige invloed kan hê op koste mededingendheid en lewensvatbaarheid. ’n In situ fotovoltaïese moniteringstelsel wat gebruik maak van steuringstegnieke om fotovoltaïese stelsels effektief te monitor word in hierdie tesis voorgestel. Die moniteringstelsel bestaan uit ’n fotovoltaïese module moniteringstoestel, ’n steuringstoestel (ingesluit in die moniteringstoestel) en ’n data inwinningstoestel. Die fotovoltaïese moniteringstoestel meet die module temperatuur en I-V data gelyktydig tydens die steurings teen ’n voorafgestelde interval. ’n Draadlose sensor netwerk word dan gebruik om die gemete data na die inwinningstoestel te stuur. Die steuringstoestel gebruik twee tegnieke. Hierdie steuringstegnieke lê verskillende intensiteitsvlakke van ossilasie aan deur twee verskillende inskakel konfigurasies van ’n induktor en ’n kapasitor oor die module. Die ossilasies versteur die fotovoltaïese module se werkspunt tydelik sodat daar op en af beweeg word op die karakteristieke I-V kurwe teen ’n tempo vinnig genoeg om nie die werking van die fotovoltaïese stelsel te beïnvloed nie. As die intensiteit van die ossilasies genoeg is om verby die kniepunt van die I-V kurwe te beweeg, kan die maksimum drywingspunt van die fotovoltaïese module te bepaal. Die doeltreffendheid van die moniteringstelsel is eerstens gesimuleer en toe eksperimenteel geverifieer terwyl die fotovoltaïese modules teen verskillende bedryfspunte op die I-V kurwe bedryf is. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die steuringstegniek wat groter ossilasies teweeg bring die maksimum drywingspunt van die fotovoltaïese module die beste kan bepaal, insluitend wanneer die fotovoltaïese module vêr van die maksimum drywingspunt bedryf word. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Masters | en_ZA |
| dc.embargo.terms | 2019-09-30 | |
| dc.format.extent | xvii, 145 leaves : illustrations (some color) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/105659 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | In-Situ monitoring system | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Photovoltaic power generation -- Management | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Photovoltaic power generation -- Cost effectiveness | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Monitoring of photovoltaic power generation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | An In-Situ system for PV module performance monitoring | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |