As reliable as the sun

The energy consumption by residential air conditioners could cost about half of the total energy consumption of the building. A combination of conventional and renewable energy is still an emerging technology. Therefore, using solar photovoltaic panels to provide electricity to the air conditioner is a substantial application. This research shows the possibility of using photovoltaic panels as a power source for air conditioners in a sequence exchange with the conventional grid. A smart switching system has been offered to organize the power supply between the grid and solar panels. The photovoltaic panels have been connected to the conditioner across a power inverter module for adopting a reliable and accurate quantity of power supply to the conditioner unit. The smart switching system provides an intelligent connection between the solar power source and the grid, ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply between the two power sources.

A solar cell panel as an efficient power source for the generation of electrical energy has long been considered. Any damage on the solar panel's surface lead to reduced production of power loss in the yield. Defects are caused by mechanical & chemical natural factors stressing the panel operating in field, such as snow, sun, wind and severe cold. Further stress factors are based on the thermal cycles of the cells involving contracting, expanding solder and wire interconnects. In this case, identification of defects in the solar panel is essential to be performed to obtain a product of high quality. Already so many methods are available to find the defect, but in any event non-contact, nondestructive and efficient testing methods are necessary. This project proposes an automated inspection system based on a Bluetooth for solar panel application in order to detect any minute cracks which may be appeared on the surface of solar panel. The power value has been calculated based on the current value updated from the current sensor to user by using Bluetooth. The sensor updates status of the solar panels through the android mobile using Bluetooth. This operation is based on the embedded systems. Each solar cell in the panels is connected to individual current sensors. The sensor output is connected to the microcontroller through ADC. When there is a crack in the cell then its output will become low. The microcontroller estimates the current sensor output to the threshold value. If the value is less than threshold then the microcontroller indicates that to the Android mobile through the Bluetooth. The user can monitor current and power level. The Bluetooth is more safe and sustainable for power level and it has to collect the output in wireless mode for more efficiency and security.

This study presents a novel power grid system, for monitoring and controlling a power grid that is made up of various power sources, by using Information and Communication Technologies ICT. This can be hugely contributed to improving the reliability, efficiency as well as towards making smart and automated power systems. The current model was developed in the MATLAB Simulink environment. The proposed system consists of a PV panel, battery, power grid, ICT system/controller, and loads. There are four insulated-gate bipolar transistor switches; namely, IGBT to control battery charging/discharging status and to connect or disconnect either PV panel power source or grid power source depending on the load. The main aim of this model is to develop and implement a grid-connected system that is integrated with PV panel and battery in MATLAB to analyze various operations modes, which include the performance of the PV panel and battery during both the online and offline modes of operation. The proposed system is said to be capable to monitor and control different power sources, which in turn will lead not only to reducing dependence on non-renewable energies but also to increasing dependence on renewable energies. The simulation results were illustrated and demonstrated that the proposed system can monitor and control the power generated and transmission in real-time in a better and secure manner. On the other hand, exploiting this model leads to reduce the power production costs, creating a clean environment, and also to preserve long term battery life.

Optimization DC-DC boost converter of BLDC motor drive by solar panel using PID and firefly algorithm

The need for electrical energy continues to increase along with population growth and community activities that cannot be separated from the use of electrical energy. To reduce dependence on the use of fossil fuels, the use of solar energy with solar panels equipped with batteries as electrical energy storage is the best alternative solution as a renewable energy source. In practice, if nonlinear solar panels are connected directly to the battery, the battery will be damaged quickly and will not last long. To overcome this, a controller which is called Solar Charge Controller (SCC) was designed so that it can regulate the voltage and current according to the condition of the battery charging phase. The voltage and current signals are regulated using the pulse width modulation (PWM) method. The design includes a 20 Wp solar panel as a power source, a buck converter is used as a voltage reducer, and electrical energy is stored in a 12 V battery with a capacity of 3 Ah and there are sensors to measure voltage and current. Experimental results show that the solar charge controller is able to work well when charging the battery for each phase, namely bulk, absorption, and float. The device is capable of reaching a bulk voltage of 14.5 V, with an average current of about 4.92 A.

When the solar array is used as an input power source, the optimum operating point tracker is often employed to exploit more effectively the solar array as an electric power source and to obtain the maximum electric power at all times even when the light intensity and environmental temperature of the solar array are varied. Usually, the optimum operating point is determined by computing the electric power from the solar array power supply with a microcomputer, DSP and so forth. However, such a method has the problems of the complex control circuit configuration, high cost and low control speed. From this viewpoint, this paper proposes a new optimum operating point tracker of the solar cell power supply system, in which inexpensive pn-junction diodes are used to generate the reference voltage of the operating point of the solar array. Using the proposed method, the high degree of the solar array optimum point tracking performance can be obtained, even when the light intensity and environmental temperature of the solar array are varied. Furthermore, the proceeding paper provides the operation principle, design-oriented analysis and so forth, of the proposed solar cell power supply system.

Solar arrays are a low-cost, readily available, and highly reliable power source for space exploration, which makes them attractive to multiple NASA mission concepts up to and including the orbit of Saturn (9.5 AU). This paper addresses the viability of currently available solar cell and solar array technologies under extremely low irradiance and low temperature (LILT) conditions. We present ground-based measurements of solar cell performance in laboratory environments relevant to Saturn missions. Several space-qualified cell products were evaluated, including Spectrolab UTJ, SolAero ZTJ, and Azur 3G28-LILT. Test conditions consisted of irradiances corresponding to sun distances from 1 AU to 9.5 AU, and junction temperatures from +150 °C to –165 °C. The various cell options were all found to have highly viable average efficiencies under Saturn LILT conditions, in the ∼30–34% range. We also present in-flight solar array telemetry data obtained by the Juno mission under Saturn-like environmental conditions. Juno is a solar-powered spacecraft, currently in polar orbit around Jupiter. During the Jupiter orbit insertion maneuver, the Juno solar array temporarily experienced effective irradiances and temperatures comparable to those that would be experienced by a solar array at Saturn. We evaluate the actual array performance under those conditions and compare it to the ground-based laboratory data.

Although fossil fuels are still readily available, their use is becoming less and less common. Solar energy produced by panels on the roof can be used as a source of power. Semiconductor-based solar panel technology can absorb photons from sunshine and transform them into ecologically beneficial electrical energy. Of course, a control device that regulates the electrical energy charging system is required when using solar cells as a power source to charge a battery. This device is typically referred to as a charge controller. The DC-DC converter of the buck type with a Ziegler Nichols-based Proportional Integral Differential (PID) control approach utilizing Arduino Uno is the control system utilized in this solar cell battery charging. The buck converter reduces and stabilizes the solar panel's output voltage following the requirements for charging the accumulator. For charging batteries, a set point voltage of 13.8 V is employed. By testing the converter with both static and dynamic loads, the research that has been done can produce results. The 35 Watt lamp static load test results with a fixed voltage source show that the set point voltage is 13 V and that it takes 28 s to attain a steady condition. When applied to dynamic loading using a battery charge of 12 V/7.5 Ah with a 20 WP solar panel source during hot, partly cloudy weather, the charging efficiency is 68 percent. A steady state of about 28 s may be claimed to be a satisfactory control system response.

The paper presents the power distribution system architecture, hardware and software design and specifications of the electrical power system (EPS) for CubeSats. The sources of power in these CubeSats are solar panels on each of their six faces. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are used to maximize the output of power from these solar panels. The EPS also has two Li-ion batteries mounted on it, the capacity of the batteries depend on the size and configuration of the CubeSat. The EPS has three flexible battery charging modules (FBCM) to charge the battery and seven independent flexible digital point of load (FDPOL) converters to drive the loads. The digital control is provided by TI TMS320F28335 DSP which runs the MPPT algorithms, takes feedback from the loads, runs the battery State of Health (SOH) and State of Charge (SOC) determination algorithms and determines state of health of the EPS.

Regulatory bodies are setting targets for companies and institutions to be more energy efficient, moving toward becoming carbon neutral. Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), in Boston, MA, USA, has a historically developed power system of supply, generation, and consumption. The purpose of this project was to investigate and document the currently existing electrical supply and demand on campus, and to explore possible expansion of renewable energy on campus. The supply for the existing system had an electrical input from the utility grid, a natural gas supplied cogeneration plant, and a small solar array on the roof of one building. The campus was supplied with 62 % of electricity from the utility grid, 38% from the cogeneration plant, and less than 1 % from the existing solar array. A goal was to explore whether more of the campus electrical demand could be supplied by renewable energy generated on the campus. For this study, a proposed new canopy solar array over an existing large parking lot, and another solar array on the roof of a gymnasium were explored. These additions would bring the amount of renewable energy generation on campus up to roughly 24 % of the demand, reducing the amount of energy supplied by the utility. This proposed system would reduce the carbon footprint of the campus and help move towards the carbon neutral targets.

The subject of study in this article is the voltage ranges, methods, and tools for prototyping independent sources of power supply and artificial lighting for home appliances with reuse of only widespread components. The goal is to improve the efficiency of the creation and use of independent power supply sources for home appliances. Task: to analyze the history of the development of voltage standards for households; analyze existing autonomous power sources and types of batteries; analyze different loads; find rational voltage ranges based on fundamental values; analyze charge control and balancing circuits for lithium-based batteries; propose the technique of prototyping independent sources of power supply based on reused lithium-ion (Li-ion) accumulators; provide an example of the practical application of the results of research. According to the tasks, the following results were obtained. The evolution of voltage standards of electrical supply networks is analyzed. Types of autonomous power supplies, including pure sine versions, are discussed. The analysis of batteries for autonomous power sources of different chemical compositions is performed. It is proposed to use the water analogy of current and area as an analogy of battery capacity for visual representation of electrical processes. Models of constant current consumption and constant power consumption are considered. It is proposed to reduce the internal resistance of the battery assembly by parallel connection of the reused lithium-ion accumulators. Correspondence of voltage ranges of sequential connection of lithium-ion cells to ensure compatibility with existing devices is investigated. Rational parameters of voltage ranges to ensure compatibility of lithium-ion and acid accumulators with the ability to charge directly from solar panels without a charge controller are found. Charge controllers, battery management systems (BMS), and battery balancing circuits are analyzed. A set of steps for reuse of lithium-ion accumulators for the creation of autonomous power sources is proposed. Conclusions. The main contribution of this research is the proposed method of creation of power supply and interior lighting based on the reuse of accumulators without additional components. The discovered and proposed magic numbers of 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 for series connection of lithium-ion cells allows to obtain the equivalent of standard voltage ranges of 12 V, 19 V, 27 V, 36 V, 42 V and 48 V. The proposed technique of adjusting the voltage of the passive balancer allows adding 4.5 % to the capacity of the battery assembly. The described solutions allow to build the completely scalable autonomous low-voltage electrical supply network with the ability to charge directly from solar panels without expensive charge controllers.

: Under Executive Orders 13514 and 13423, federal agencies are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020; and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires agencies increase the amount of renewable energy consumed. In order to achieve these goals, agencies must ensure that at least half of the statutorily required energy comes from a renewable energy source and where feasible, implement renewable energy generation projects on agency property for agency use. The United States Air Force, in order to comply with the Executive Orders is proposing to construct a Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Array on Laughlin AFB. Currently Laughlin AFB purchases energy through Champion Electric, by purchasing the energy Laughlin AFB does not have control over the power source and therefore cannot assist the Department of Defense in meeting its required goal. The construction of the PV Solar Array would provide the installation with up to 100 percent of its required energy, allowing for Laughlin AFB to use only renewable energy. The preferred location for the PV Solar Array would be 85 acres in size and be located on an undeveloped portion within the western side of the installation. Construction of the PV Solar Array would include disturbing of soil and construction of the Array and an unmanned facility that would house inverters and batteries. An alternative location for the PV Solar Array is located at the undeveloped northeast corner of the installation. Under the No-Action Alternative, there would be no construction of the PV Solar Array. The following resources were identified for study in this Environmental Assessment: Air Quality Climate, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazardous Materials/Hazardous Wastes/Solid Wastes, Land Use, Noise, Socioeconomics, Environmental Justice and the Protection of Children, Utilities/Infrastructure, and Water Resources.

The Sasol Solar Challenge is an event where teams from across the world design and build solar vehicles to travel across South Africa. Solar challenger vehicles main design aspects are weight, power and aerodynamics. Photovoltaic panels, the power source, produce more energy when in direct sunlight. It would be beneficial to do solar tracking in a solar challenge however; the aerodynamics makes solar tracking difficult to implement on solar challenge vehicles. An Aerodynamic tracking solution could be a transparent cover over the panels. The purpose of this paper is twofold; firstly, to demonstrate a designed and constructed instrument to investigate power loss of covering materials and secondly, investigating the results of power losses of the suggested covering mineral to benchmark against future covering materials. The instrument designed in the paper measures power losses at different angles of incidence. Polycarbonate (PC) covering was evaluated as the literature review indicates Polycarbonate to be the most suitable cover solution for its minimal amount of irradiant power loss. Results show power losses and/or gains at specified angles if incidence under the Polycarbonate cover dome. One would expect power loss through a cover material to increase at noon but there where unexpected power advances of a cover material at specified angles of incidence. Conclusions drawn, discuss the power loss over incidence to consider in aerodynamic design. Results of varying covering material would also influence the Photovoltaic diode bypass placements of the solar panels. The instrument could also be used to test other covering materials as they are developed. The results of this paper could be used in the Sasol Solar Challenge or other relevant applications. Solar power production is on the rise and as a growing number of applications start to incorporate as a power source, especially in aerodynamic covered applications, one would need an instrumentation to evaluate cover materials as well as characteristics to consider the type of cover materials that can be used.

Air quality control is a monitoring task of high priority in the scope of Smart City and Smart Home applications. In fact, a number of sensors are required to successfully detect the leaks of various gases and their different concentrations. Using wireless sensor platform for these purpose it's necessary to think a lot about appropriate power sources and power management. In this work, we present autonomous multi-sensor wireless platform power supply algorithms. The platform uses alternative power sources (solar panel and wind generator) as main power supply and lithium battery as reserve one. These power supply components are managed to maintain the most efficient using of power sources during whole working cycle.

Tethered buoys have long served as a common gateway for communications between underwater, terrestrial, and air assets. Although common, tethered buoys lack the versatility envisioned with an anchorless buoy that can closely maintain a station or waypoint as long as needed and be remotely commanded to move to another waypoint. Indeed, an untethered gateway buoy would have multiple uses in the defense, commercial and scientific sectors. The predominant challenge to develop an untethered buoy is generating enough energy for the buoy to maintain a station for months in open ocean currents. Falmouth Scientific, Inc. and its partners have developed an untethered, station-keeping, gateway buoy, named Gatekeeper, under an SBIR contract with the U.S. Navy. A spar-shape buoy, Gatekeeper inherently offers superior stability to meet the requirement for a persistent radio and satellite link A bail winch system for dropping and raising an acoustic transducer provides a robust underwater acoustic link. The primary energy and power source for the Gatekeeper is a 35 kilowatt-hour patent-pending Salt Water Activated Power System (SWAPS?), which provides at least 200 Watts of power. The Gatekeeper's SWAPS? uses 55 pounds of an environmentally friendly metal alloy that reacts with saltwater to produce hydrogen for a fuel cell generator. SWAPS? is an order of magnitude better than any battery technology in terms of mass, volume and cost for the same amount of energy. A solar panel array serves as a renewable energy source for the Gatekeeper system in order to preserve the SWAPS? fuel, which is not renewable during deployment. A 2 kilowatt-hour battery is also used to store energy from the SWAPS? and solar panels when the Gatekeeper is idling. Gatekeeper demonstrated excellent navigational and station-keeping capability at speeds up to 2 knots during a SBIR Phase ? sea trial in the Fall of 2008 and operated solely from the SWAPS? and a solar array at speeds up to about 1.5 knots. Gatekeeper is projected to endure deployments that last several weeks with its configuration from the fall of 2008, which is a significant milestone. Improvements to Gatekeeper's endurance will be made in preparation for an at-sea endurance test that is planned for the early spring of 2010.