Ambient temperature effect on Amorphous Silicon (A-Si) Photovoltaic module using sensing technology

Temperature and solar irradiance are the two dominating cardinals that determine the electrical performance of Photovoltaic (PV) module. In this paper, an experiment is conducted considering Amorphous Silicon (A-Si) PV module in both indoor and outdoor condition to investigate the temperature effect on A-Si module's performance in terms of efficiency and output power through an automatic resistor selection system. The experimental result shows that A-Si PV module has small temperature coefficient effect; however it has higher effect on solar radiation coefficient. A comparison analysis is evaluated with different models to validate the experimental data

A novel Zigbee-based data acquisition system for distributed photovoltaic generation in smart grid

Distributed photovoltaic (PV) power plant monitoring is one of the crucial aspects for energy forecasting and demand management in the future smart grid (SG) through establishing low-powered communication technology. In this paper, Zigbee wireless technology is considered for AC electrical parameters' monitoring of the distributed PV plant located at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). For this consideration, relevant measurement circuits, Arduino UNO embedded board, and Zigbee radio are interfaced to create a wireless (WS)-node for installing in the PV inverter. In addition, a LabVIEW program is implemented and linked to Microsoft Access Database (MS Access DB) at the control center server system for the Zigbee-based wireless data acquisition, storage, and monitoring. The obtained data from the developed system are also validated with the actual PV generation. The results are found comparable and it also reveals that low-powered Zigbee is ideal for monitoring the distributed PV generation where the data delivery requirement is not urgent

Dynamic communication for smart metering: leading edge for sustainable energy and PHEV

The urgency of moving towards optimization of existing energy distribution via Smart Grid (SG) is crucial due to promising opportunities such as energy efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and improved power reliability. This paper focuses on wireless communication network for smart meter linking Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to Smart Grid (SG). This paper also gives evidence that before smart meter is deployed, its communication infrastructure has to be precise to ensure proper operation, functionality and safety. This paper also provides an overview of how smart meter can contribute the penetration of Plug-In Hybrid Electrical Vehicle (PHEV) to the grid and its uncertain load

Feasibility analysis of standalone PV powered battery using SEN for Smart Grid

In Smart Grid (SG) communication network, sensors integrated communication radios namely ZigBee, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth are becoming urgent and crucial part of SG wireless communication. Sensor nodes are generally battery powered. With the enhancement and huge utilization of sensor technologies, batteries have not been improved significantly at the same pace. However, batteries are essential to power the sensor nodes and there is no alternative of this energy bank. Therefore, to provide seamless power to the nodes is a challenge when the nodes are meant for integrating distributed renewable generations for years. Necessitate of the battery replacement is not often cost effective when the batteries are drained out. This paper presents a feasibility study of standalone Photovoltaic (PV) powered battery using Sensors-radios integrated Embedded Node (SEN) for SG application. In this study, we have analyzed charging characteristics of a lead-acid battery that can be recharged during day time by a PV module. The aim of this research is to testify the two simultaneous jobs- (i) the battery is sufficient to power Sensors-ZigBee integrated Arduino (SZA) for at least one day operation, (ii) scrutiny the optimal size of PV for recharging the battery considering three different day variations- average, cloudy, and full rainy day. The result from real data analysis reveals that the module is sufficient to recharge the battery on an average day; however, it is not sufficient for full cloudy or full rainy day. Finally, a mathematical model is obtained from regression analysis that shows battery internal resistance is exponential to voltage on both full cloudy and rainy day, but it is linear on average day

Development of a prototype for remote current measurements of PV panel using WSN

Sensing, monitoring, actuating and information retrieving are expected to play a key role in smart grid energy management strategy. For energy consumption metering, power measurement systems generally implement transformers contactless current sensors but also have a wide variety of technologies especially for integrating renewable generations. One of the key problems of future smart grid is to develop data communication system for distributed intermittent renewable generations to build an efficient energy management and demand response system. In this paper, a test bed has been developed using Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard for remote real time monitoring of current production in a distributed Photovoltaic (PV) plant. ZigBee based WSN is integrated with Arduino microcontroller and current sensor to sense produce current by PV at every moment and forward this data to control unit instantaneously. In the control unit, a LabVIEW based program is developed to receive the data and store in to a database for further processing of energy management by the control unit

Current THD and Output Voltage Ripple Characteristics of Flyback PFC Converters with LED Lamp and Nonlinear RL Loads

This study analysed the characteristics of total harmonic distortion (THD) and output voltage ripple in a flyback PFC converter circuit under two different loads, which are the LED lamp modules and nonlinear RL loads. The converter was designed to step down the AC input voltage (90 V-265 V) to a DC output voltage of 80 V DC for both loads, each with an output power of 16 W. The main objectives were to observe and assess current THD and output voltage ripple for both loads using two different capacitances of the output capacitor, which are 2400 μF and 6 μF, respectively. The results demonstrated that using smaller capacitors (6 μF), it increased output voltage ripple, which it increased for the LED lamp load from 10% to 25% and for the nonlinear RL load it increased from 15% to 70%. However, with the same smaller capacitors (6 μF), it reduced current THD for both loads, which for the LED lamp load it reduced from 12% to 10.3%, and for the nonlinear RL load it reduced from 13.7% to 8.3%. From these results, with 2400 μF of the output capacitor, it provided better performance in terms of current THD and output voltage ripple for both load types.

Current THD and Output Voltage Ripple Characteristics of Flyback PFC Converters with LED Lamp and Nonlinear RL Loads

This study analysed the characteristics of total harmonic distortion (THD) and output voltage ripple in a flyback PFC converter circuit under two different loads, which are the LED lamp modules and nonlinear RL loads. The converter was designed to step down the AC input voltage (90 V-265 V) to a DC output voltage of 80 V DC for both loads, each with an output power of 16 W. The main objectives were to observe and assess current THD and output voltage ripple for both loads using two different capacitances of the output capacitor, which are 2400 μF and 6 μF, respectively. The results demonstrated that using smaller capacitors (6 μF), it increased output voltage ripple, which it increased for the LED lamp load from 10% to 25% and for the nonlinear RL load it increased from 15% to 70%. However, with the same smaller capacitors (6 μF), it reduced current THD for both loads, which for the LED lamp load it reduced from 12% to 10.3%, and for the nonlinear RL load it reduced from 13.7% to 8.3%. From these results, with 2400 μF of the output capacitor, it provided better performance in terms of current THD and output voltage ripple for both load types.

Adaptive position control of DC motor for brush-based photovoltaic cleaning system automation

In this paper, we have developed an automatic brush-based PV cleaning system to control and synchronize the 3 motors together with a smooth periodic of cleaning while moving it horizontally over the PV surface. The mechanical design involved installing linear guides at the top and bottom of the rail to support the aluminium plate that holds the carrier motors and rotating brush. Two different movements of translational and rotational motion of the motors are managed by an algorithm programmed in Arduino Mega. In investigating the performance of motor parameters and dust removal rate, we conducted an experiment by spreading dry sand over the PV surface. Results showed that the torque of the cleaning brush motor increases with the increase in load. The obtained torque of the carrier motor was found to be 9.167 Nm (> stall torque, 9.8 Nm) with a full load of 18 brushes. The torque is inversely proportional to the speed but directly proportional to power. The required power to move the 2.93 kg of cleaning system was 19.20 W with 3.015 Nm of torque. The system achieved 86.8% of the dust removal rate from the four cycles of cleaning operation

Future strategic plan analysis for integrating distributed renewable generation to smart grid through wireless sensor network: Malaysia prospect

Integration of Distributed Renewable Generation (DRG) to the future Smart Grid (SG) is one of the important considerations that is highly prioritized in the SG development roadmap by most of the countries including Malaysia. The plausible way of this integration is the enhancement of information and bidirectional communication infrastructure for energy monitoring and controlling facilities. However, urgency of data delivery through maintaining critical time condition is not crucial in these facilities. In this paper, we have surveyed state-of-the-art protocols for different Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) with the aim of realizing communication infrastructure for DRG in Malaysia. Based on the analytical results from surveys, data communication for DRG should be efficient, flexible, reliable, cost effective, and secured. To meet this achievement, IEEE802.15.4 supported ZigBee PRO protocol together with sensors and embedded system is shown as Wireless Sensor (WS) for DRG bidirectional network with prospect of attaining data monitoring facilities. The prospect towards utilizing ZigBee PRO protocol can be a cost effective option for full integration of intelligent DRG and small scale Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV)/Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) under SG roadmap (Phase4: 2016–2017) conducted by Malaysia national utility company, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). Moreover, we have provided a direction to utilize the effectiveness of ZigBee-WS network with the existing optical communication backbone for data importing from the end DRG site to the TNB control center. A comparative study is carried out among developing countries on recent trends of SG progress which reveals that some common projects like smart metering and DRG integration are on priority

Incorporating decentralized renewable energy in smart grid using Zigbeepro

Distributed Renewable Generation (DRG) is one of the major components ofthe Smart Grid (SG) from where the real-time energy information is expectedto export to control center for demand management and energy forecasting.For this export service, low-powered and low-data rate ommunicationprotocol, e.g. ZigBeePRO is targeted for achieving the DRG communication requirement where reliability and critical demand of data delivery are not mandatory. In this thesis, the aim is to determine seasonal performance evaluation and energy yield modelling of the two photovoltaic (PV) modules, namely, Amorphous Silicon (A-Si) and Crystalline Silicon (C-Si) for Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) or DRG. Several other properties of the DRG solar environment,such as presence of various dielectric constant materials and uneven presence of obstacles are also considered in the analysis. To achieve these aims,shortest and strongest Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) weighted path signal of ZigBeePRO is modelled relying on a real test-bed, 35kW solar DRG at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). ZigBeePRO radio, Waspmote embedded board, and electrical and environmental parameters’ measurement sensors are coalesced into a sensor-node which are installed at the existing 10kW UPM solar DRG site. Based on the seamless acquiring and importing of these parameters from the DRG site to the control centre, the two types of PV modules’ performance are analysed which show significant variations in energy yield in tropical Malaysia. Moreover, the performance of data collection also shows that ZigBeePRO is recommended over ZigBee S1 for this specific purpose of SG where there is no strict-time and high demanding requirement of data delivery