Interim Report

Engineering Group Project 2

EEE3933

Group Member:
Raefi Azrani

1006Q78842

Geofreyy Tan

0304374

Leong Mun Loong

1003G78846

Chui Yong Liang

0304374

Supervisor: Mohammad Taghi Hajibeiy

B.Eng. (Hons.) of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Semester: 6

Contents
Executive summary ................................................................................................ 3
Introduction & Objectives ...................................................................................... 4
Material ................................................................................................................. 5
Proposed Budget ................................................................................................... 6
Project Scope and Key Deliverables ....................................................................... 7
Gannt Chart ......................................................................................................... 10
Organizational Structure (WBS) ........................................................................... 11
Linear Responsibility Chart .................................................................................. 12
Risk and Risk Management .................................................................................. 13
Conclusion and Recommendation ....................................................................... 14
References ........................................................................................................... 15

Interim Report

Page 2

Executive summary
This project intends to demonstrate the benefits of a hybrid solar Photovoltaic Thermal
system. The hybrid solar Photovoltaic Thermal system is a solar power system that draws energy
from the Sun through two sources, PV modules and solar heat. In the Engineering Group Project
module in Taylors University, student groups are given separate components of the system to
develop; namely Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT), solar thermal, & SCADA. The focus
of this report covers the MPPT aspect of the project. The role of the MPPT is a simple yet vital
in the solar power generation system, which is to optimise the output from the solar panels and
match the output the load at any point in time. Without the MPPT, a stable output from the solar
system cannot be achieved.

Interim Report

Page 3

Introduction & Objectives

The rapidly developing world, in the midst of development the demand for energy is
surging to new highs. This has lead humans to draw power from unsustainable and polluting
sources, leading to an unnatural phenomenon; Global Warming being the worst of the effects
that can accounted for. Sources of energy are mostly derived from thermal sources, heat from
these thermal sources are then used to generate steam which is used to propel a turbine. This
process leads to allot of waste energy, also more often than not the thermal sources are derived
from hydrocarbons or non-renewable fuels which produce pollutants such as carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide (acid rain) amongst others. Thus we need more sustainable
sources of power to overcome this challenge. Solar power represents a viable option for
sustainable power generation. [1]

Solar power is clean and does not produce carbon emission. Also it does not utilise fossil
fuels which cannot be reused. Solar power does however inherently have one major challenge,
which is the power output from the array is not consistent throughout the day. These challenges
reduce the performance of the entire system and in some cases create hotspots on the solar array
which can damage the array [2] [3] [4]. This is where the MPPT comes in, the MPPT optimises
the power output if the solar array through DC-DC conversion [5], coupled with constant
monitoring, the MPPT cuts or boots the current according to the load requirements and the
current available output of the array.

Interim Report

Page 4

Material
Material/Resources

Justification

MultiSim

To generate simulation and testing purpose for the design

UltraSim

To design the circuit and print it out to the PCB

Ardunio IDE

Is an open-source software that allowed us to write code and programs

the Arduino

PCB board

The based circuit component for the solar charger controller

Table 1: Material and Justification

Interim Report

Page 5

Proposed Budget

No. Item

Arduino Yun Main Board

Date that
required

Price(RM) Description

Vendor

Contact

Controller

Cytron
Technologies
Sdn. Bhd

604-5453867

19 May 2014

265

19 May 2014

61.20

Measure
energy(wh),charge(ah),
power(w),current(A) and
voltage(V).

Shenzhen
Dealfon
Technology
Co.,Ltd.

sales@dealfon.com

19 April 2014

148.00

300W, Modified Sine Wave

Solar Power
Mart Sdn.
Bhd.

603-80520078

-ARDUINO-YUN

Digital LCD Voltage

Current Power Battery
Analyzer
-MDEEI3548

Solar Inverter
-SPM300MS

Table 2: Proposed Budget

Interim Report

Page 6

Project Scope and Key Deliverables

At recent year, Photovoltaic system has come at a concern by people which made the
number of user increase gradually, but the efficiency of Photovoltaic system are under ideal
conditions of 10 15% [1]. Therefore, Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) system is implemented to
increase the efficiency of the PV system. Basically, PVT system is consisting of two different
systems, Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal. PV system uses sun energy to generate electricity
whereas Solar Thermal system collect the heat energy from solar radiation and store it. As we
know as the PV panel heats up by the sun, the efficiency and lifespan of the PV system will both
decrease [1]. In this case, solar thermal system is make use to remove the heat from PV panel to
achieve better efficiency and lifespan.
In order to maximize the power output of the PV system, Maximum Power Point Tracker
(MPPT) is required to optimize the amount of power getting from the photovoltaic system.
MPPT an algorithm is used to programme into the solar charge controller for extracting
maximum available power from PV module. The MPPT controller allows drawing of sufficient
current to empower to charge the battery at ideal conditions, by utilizing highest amount of solar
radiance the output of the PV system is characterized by a voltage versus current performance
curve [2]. The maximum power point of a PV module is located along the I-V curve that
correlate to the maximum output as they capable of. This value can be found from the I-V
characteristic curve.

Interim Report

Page 7

Figure 1: I-V characteristic curve [2]

MPPT is an algorithm that sensing the input current and voltage information to control
the DC-DC converter which to maximize the produce of power from the output of Photovoltaic
Thermal (PVT) system. The output of the PV system is characterized by a voltage versus current
performance curve [3]. The maximum power point of a PV module is located along the I-V
curve that correlate to the maximum output as they capable of. In this project, the algorithm will
be programme into the Arduino YUN and act as the main controller of the MPPT module. There
is another circuit module which is the charging module that including voltage regulator, buckboost converter (DC-DC converter), the solar input and power output. The circuit is designed and
simulated in software MultiSim shown in figure 4 below.

Interim Report

Page 8

Figure 2: Simulation schematic in Multisim

The MPPT is that the algorithm which programme into the Arduino to controls the
conversion rate/ratio of the DC-DC converter, so that the solar panel is giving the maximum
power output. Another simulation had done on comparing the power output of MPPT and nonMPPT module which shown in figure 5 below. Therefore we can see that the power output of
MPPT has roughly 20% efficiency increase in power output than the non-MPPT.

Interim Report

Page 9

Gannt Chart

Table 4: Gannt Chart from week 1 to week 2

Interim Report

Page 10

Organizational Structure (WBS)

Project
Manager
(Raefi Azrani)

Manufacture

Designing

(Liang Chui)

Programmer

Build
(Leong Mun
Loong)

Desinging

TroubleShoot

(Geofreyy Tan)

(Reafi Azrani)

Chart 1: Work Breakdown Structure for MPPT group

Linear Responsibility Chart

Table 5: Linear Responsibility Chart

Risk and Risk Management

Risk
MPPT being burnt

Risk Description
Sudden surge of current might
destroy the PCB board.

Short circuit

Components in the PCB might

be too close thus touching
which results in short circuit.

Water leak

Water might leak into the

MPPT thus destroying the
electrical components inside.

Harmful airborne materials

and environment

Corrosive materials or
moisture and extreme
temperature may damage the
PCB.
Components in the MPPT
might give way or burn while
operating under full load for
long periods of time.

Components burn under high

load

Copper poisoning

Algorithm being wiped out

Loose connections

Coming in contact with the

etching fluid while etching the
PCB.

The algorithm might be lost

along with a faulty arduino.

Vibrations or impact might

disconnect or loosen the PCB
from its wire connections.

Table 6: Risk and Risk Management

Risk Management
The tracks in the PCB are
made slightly wider than
necessary so that the extra
current will flow through.
The gaps between components
in the PCB are soldered
slightly further apart to
prevent it from touching.
The outer casing of the MPPT
will be made from weather
proof material preventing any
water from seeping into the
MPPT.
A conformal coating is applied
to the PCB so that it is
protected and prolongs it
longevity.
The limits of the components
used are higher than the
required specifications so that
it will be able to operate under
full-load continuously without
being spoilt.
Gloves are worn while etching
the PCB so prevent being in
contact with the etching
solution for it is corrosive and
poisonous.
Backups of the algorithm used
are made to ensure that the
work will still be there even if
the arduino is burnt.
The PCB is housed in a casing
to minimize the forces
affecting it.

Conclusion and Recommendation

In the conclusion, we can see that photovoltaic thermal system is best applied in country
nearby equator such as Malaysia. It is because, in Malaysia they have most suitable weather for
solar photovoltaic thermal system to generate electricity which have longer hours of sunlight and
temperature to collect heat. In MPPT an algorithm is used to programme into the solar charge
controller for extracting maximum available power from PV module under certain conditions at
which the photovoltaic module can produce the maximum power output. Other than that, MPPT
is most effective in Malaysia it is because in Malaysia they have cloudy and rainy, so that the
MPPT is utilized to extract the maximum power available from them. In the end, we can
conclude that, solar charge controller with MPPT gives much more benefits than non-MPPT
solar charge controller.
Recommendations
As a recommendation, readers of this report who wants to follow the steps on this report to build
a MPPT are advised to optimize the algorithm. This increases the efficiency of the MPPT.
Another suggestion is to check out for the latest breakthrough in the solar panel industry for as
technology becomes more and more advance, the latest solar panels might become cheaper and
more efficient than the ones mentioned in the report. It is also advisable for users to clean the
surface of the solar panels if possible once every half a year to ensure dust or dirt does not get
stuck there hampering the performance of the solar panels.

Interim Report

Page 14

References
[1] International Energy Agency, "World Energy Outlook 2012," International Energy Agency,
2012.
[2] S. Bremner, "Solar Electric Systems," in ECE Spring 2009, Delaware, 2009
[3]FLIR, "Solartechnik Stiens uses FLIR thermal," FLIR, 2010. [Online]. Available:
www.flir.com/cs/emea/en/view/?id=41459.
[4]W. Herrmann, W. Wiesner and W. Vaaen, "HOT SPOT INVESTIGATIONS ON PV
MODULES - NEW CONCEPTS," 2012.
[5]Blue Sky Energy, "What is Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)," Blue Sky Energy, Inc,
Vista, CA, 2000.
[6]C. Deline, "CHARACTERIZING SHADING LOSSES ON PARTIALLY SHADED PV
SYSTEMS," in PV Performance Modeling Workshop, Albuquerque,, 2010.
[7]Wei Cai and Leslie Lauren Gouveia, "Modeling and Simulation of Maximum Power Point
Tracker in Ptolemy," Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 4, 2013.
[8]Katherine L. R. (June 2010), Photovoltaic Cell Efficiency at Elevated Temperatures
Department of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
[9]Mohammad T. H. (2013), How do MPPT charge controllers work? Electrical and
Electronic Engineering.
[10]
PCB
Fabrication
Methods.
Seen
at
20
http://www.technick.net/public/code/cp_dpage.php?aiocp_dp=guide_pcb

Interim Report

April

2014,

Page 15