- Title
- Investigation of thermal and electrical characteristics of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules under varying operational conditions
- Creator
- Vumbugwa, Monphias
- Subject
- Photovoltaic power generation -- South Africa
- Subject
- Silicon crystals -- South Africa
- Subject
- Solar cells
- Date Issued
- 2022-12
- Date
- 2022-12
- Type
- Doctoral theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60014
- Identifier
- vital:62733
- Description
- Solar energy has become an attractive and environmentally mindful method in electrical power generation as it contributes significantly to meeting the high demand for the power needed for socio and economic developments. The rise in deployment of Photovoltaic (PV) facilities with large capacity creates the need for accurate and reliable PV inspection techniques for optimum performance, the longevity of PV modules and quick return on PV investment. The performance of PV modules in the field is often monitored through several inspection methods that require a rapid throughput such as Thermal Infrared (TIR) imaging and current-voltage (I-V) measurements. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based TIR imaging is widely applied in large PV plants since it is cost-effective and is usually conducted in-situ while the plant is operating at irradiance levels above 600 W.m-2 . One of the outcomes of the interpretations of TIR images is an attempt to quantify the energy loss in PV plants associated with the abnormal thermal signatures identified on TIR images. No standard procedure has yet outlined the quantification of energy loss related to TIR images of underperforming modules since the interpretation of TIR images remains a challenge. PV modules operate under dynamic operating conditions which can influence the results and interpretation of thermal and electrical characterisation measurements. Dynamic operation conditions refer to any disorders in the operation of the modules and cells which cause a change in the current and voltage characteristics of the PV source. These dynamic operation conditions include; changesin load conditions, irradiance, soiling and shading levels. The tests were done under steady state conditions. Although measurements are generally done while the operating conditions are as steady as possible, some changes in conditions have a profound effect on thermal and electrical measurements. In this study, these effects and some of the changes in conditions that cause them were studied.
- Description
- Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2022
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (122 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Science
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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NMU School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Vumbugwa, M Dec 2022.pdf | 4 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |