National Workshop On Creation Management Of Infrastructure Facilities In Educational Institutions

IIT Madras, Chennai. 8th – 9th December 2005. pp 1 – 4.

Planning a Research Infrastructure For Photovoltaic Studies

At EEE Dept – SSN College Of Engineering

Pandiarajan.N. B.E.M.Sc(Engg),M.B.A.
Assistant Professor/EEE, SSN college of Engineering, Kalavakkam –603110,India.
n_pandiarajan@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Desperate need for energy in India is presented. Importance and problems with photovoltaic
systems are discussed and specific research problems identified. The research infrastructure
for photovoltaic studies At EEE Dept – SSN College Of Engineering is suggested.

INTRODUCTION

Photovoltaic (PV), a modular zero-emission technology that converts sunlight into electricity,
has broad applicability in much of the developing world and unrealized potential for significant price
reductions. A residential PV power system enables a homeowner to generate some or all of their daily
electrical energy demand on their own roof, exchanging daytime excess power for future energy needs
(i.e. nighttime usage). The house remains connected to the electric utility at all times, so any power
needed above what the solar system can produce is simply drawn from the utility. PV systems can also
include battery backup or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capability to operate selected circuits in
the residence for hours or days during a utility outage. [1]

INDIA'S POWER SECTOR

India's power sector is plagued by capacity shortages, resulting in frequent blackouts, poor
reliability, and deteriorating physical and financial conditions. The actual transmission &distribution
loss in the state of Orissa was 49.5% in 1996/97.[2]
With this unbelievable real situation in India’s power sector, every avenue of electricity
production become very important.

FACTS ON PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER

Photovoltaic power generation systems are rated in peak kilowatts (kWp). This is the amount of
electrical power that a new, clean system is expected to deliver when the sun is directly overhead on a
clear day. We can safely assume that the actual output will never quite reach this value. System output
will be compromised by the angle of the sun, atmospheric conditions, dust on the collectors, and
deterioration of the components.
Sunlight reaches the Earth’s outer atmosphere at a strength of 1367 watts per square meter,
defined as AM0, or “air mass zero.” Atmospheric losses reduce the sun’s power to about 1000 W/m2
when the sun is directly overhead on a cloudless day [3].
The most efficient PV modules usually employ single-crystal silicon cells, with efficiencies up to
15%. Poly-crystalline cells are less expensive to manufacture but yield module efficiencies of about
11%. Thin-film cells are less expensive still, but give efficiencies to about 8% and suffer greater losses
from deterioration [4]
Photovoltaic efficiency and manufacturing costs have not reached the point that photovoltaic
power generation can compete with conventional coal-, gas-, and nuclear-powered facilities. The cost
of photovoltaic power (when storage is not required) is two to four times that of conventionally
produced power. It is difficult to define this relationship precisely due to wide variations in the cost of
producing and distributing conventional electrical power and other variables. Due to the wide range of
these variables, some applications of photovoltaic power are economically superior to conventional
systems.
 Planning a Research Infrastructure For Photovoltaic Studies
At EEE Dept – SSN College Of Engineering

RESEARCH PROBLEMS ON PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS:

From the above facts, the present efficiency of the system is very low and reasonable pay- back
period is not possible. Any small improvement could bring large energy to the country. The following
are suggested areas for research.[5]

Research and development of high efficiency cells and novel types of photovoltaic
systems.

Developing parabolic trough and paraboloidal dish PV concentrator systems, and a
Combined Heat and Power Solar (“CHAPS”) System.

Developing low cost tracking mechanisms.

Developing low cost bulk batteries and battery free direct loading systems.

Efficient inventor and power utilities.

Suggesting new wiring regulations to take care of direct loading from pv system

( example – fan & air-conditioner separate wiring & making pv systems essential for
each house)

FAVORABLE FACTORS AT SSN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING:

SSN college has both chemical and EEE branch experts to address the above area of research.
The college does not have high rise buildings and entire EEE department is accommodated in ground
floor with ample first floor space for the experimental system.

ELECTRICAL LOADS AT EEE DEPARTMENT:

The department has 500 students (PG & UG) and 50 staff members. All class rooms;
laboratories and staff rooms are available in one building ground floor. The fan and light loads are
shown separately since fans act as direct load to pv system which does not require battery.
Fan - 130 nos - 40W each - 5200W - 5 KW
Tube light - 250 nos - 40W each - 10000W - 10 KW
Laboratory loads:
Electrical Machines Lab
10 machines of 5 HP working average at a time - 50 HP - 50 KW

laboratory work at a time with each at 5 KW - 20 KW

Computer systems - 40 nos - 350W each - 14 KW - 15KW
Air conditioners - 15 KW
PV ELECTRICAL GENERATION SYSTEM:
Typical System Components: [6}

PV Array: A PV Array is made up of PV modules, which are environmentally sealed collections of

PV Cells— the devices that convert sunlight to electricity. The most common PV module that is 5-to-
25 square feet in size and weighs about 3-4 lbs./ft2. Often sets of four or more smaller modules are
framed or attached together by struts in what is called a panel. This panel is typically around 20-35
square feet in area for ease of handling on a roof. This allows some assembly and wiring functions to
be done on the ground if called for by the installation instructions.
Balance of system equipment (BOS): BOS includes mounting systems and wiring systems used to
integrate the solar modules into the structural and electrical systems of the home. The wiring systems
include disconnects for the dc and ac sides of the inverter, ground-fault protection, and overcurrent
protection for the solar modules. Most systems include a combiner board of some kind since most
modules require fusing for each module source circuit. Some inverters include this fusing and
combining function within the inverter enclosure.
 National Workshop On Creation Management Of Infrastructure Facilities In Educational Institutions

Dc-ac inverter: This device takes the dc power from the PV array and converts it into standard ac
power used by the house appliances.
Metering: This includes meters to provide indication of system performance. Some meters can
indicate home energy usage.
Other components: utility switch (depending on local utility)

PV array DC / AC Main Service

Inverter Panel

Battery
System

Fig 1 : Layout Of PV System

PV system can be used with or without batteries as per the requirement.

Factors Affecting Output of PV systems are Standard Test Conditions (Solar modules produce dc
electricity. The dc output of solar modules is rated by manufacturers under
Standard Test Conditions (STC). So the variation is seen in actual condtions.), Temperature(Module
output power reduces as module temperature increases.), Dirt and dust, Mismatch and wiring losses, Dc
to ac conversion losses and etc.
So the “100-watt module” output, reduced by production tolerance, heat, dust, wiring, ac
conversion, and other losses will translate into about 68 Watts of AC power delivered to the house
panel during the middle of a clear day (100 Watts x 0.95 x 0.89 x 0.93 x 0.95 x 0.90 = 67 Watts).

COST OF THE SYSTEM:

At present the cost of the 600 Wp system is Rs. 1,80,000/- The cost of the 1KWp system is
Rs. 3,50,000/- [7} .
At EEE department, the following loads can be connected directly.
Fan - 130 nos - 40W each - 5200W - 5 KW
Air conditioners - 15 KW
The following loads can be connected with battery.
Computer systems - 40 nos - 350W each - 14 KW - 15KW

The total of above load is 35KW & cost of the Pvsystem for 35 KW is about Rs 1,22,50,000
. Alternatively to reduce the cost of the system 10 KW system ( 5 KW with battery & 5 KW with
battery) can be considered at the cost of Rs 35,00,000.
 Planning a Research Infrastructure For Photovoltaic Studies
At EEE Dept – SSN College Of Engineering

CONCLUSION:

The research infrastructure of 10KW system at the cost of Rs 35,00,000 is suggested for
photovoltaic studies at EEE Dept – SSN College Of Engineering.

REFERENCE :

1. Photovoltaic Power Generation by Tom Penick and Bill Louk December 4, 1998
2. Ramanathan K and Hasan S. 2003 “Privatization of electricity distribution:
the Orissa experience “ New Delhi: TERI. 93 pp
3. Jack L. Stone, “Photovoltaics: Unlimited Electrical Energy From the Sun,” Physics
Today,September 1993
4. Stuart Baird, “Energy Fact Sheet: Photovoltaic Cells,”
http://www.ohrets.com/photovoltaics-factsheet.htm, November 13, 1998.
5. The Commercialization of Photovoltaic Research in Australia Dr. Muriel Watt
Center for PV Engineering University of NSW Sydney, NSW 2052 September
2003
6. A Guide To Photovoltaic (Pv) System Design And Installation. California Energy
Commission June 2001
7. http://mnes.nic.in - web site of Ministry of non conventional energy sources.