Design And Implementation OF Solar Cell Characterization Facility Using Capacitive Load Method Under All Test Conditions

Project Title

Design And Implementation OF Solar Cell Characterization Facility Using Capacitive Load Method Under All Test Conditions

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

Solar energy production boom in Pakistan is yet to come and the delay is becasue of expensive testing of the PV-Panels. Solar electricity is economical in Pakistani electricity market today, if solar panels can perform to warranted specifications for the length of their service, which is typically 25 years. Design qualification test protocols, such as IEC 60904-1 and IEC 61215 , have been key to mitigating poorly manufactured PV modules, but continued improvements to these standards and test procedures are necessary to ensure the overall reliability and durability of products going into the field. It is necessary to make these test methods cost effective and viable for everyone.

Keeping in view the above scenario. we decided to work on a cost-efficient testing machine which analyzes the electrical characteristics of PV modules when they are manufactured in industry. we will also be testing the PV-Panel on PVUSA Standrads as it is more accurate then STC and gives more precise information according to the place where the panel is going to be installed.

Project Objectives

Following are the main objectives of project:

1. To design a low-cost, user-friendly and efficient PV module testing machine which analyzes its Electrical Characteristics by tracing its I-V curve and determining other performance parameters.

2. To investigate the health of PV modules at both STC and PVUSA as per following the ICE's design qualification test protocols(60904-1 and 61215).

3. To develop a Smart Graphic User Interface based software to monitor the health of PV modules and monthly and annual energy production.

4. To bring down the testing cost so that it can be in reach of domestic consumer, to provide a benckmark and more pratical testing report of PV-Panel(PVUSA) and to promote renewable energy sector of Pakistan.

Project Implementation Method

Capacitor charging method will be employed to trace the I-V curve at STC and PVUSA. Capacitor will be charged by PV module and discharged by switching device e.g. (relays/IGBTs). An FPGA and a dual core processor i.e., ZYNQ702 will acts as a computing device. Since FPGA can perform true parallel processing, it will simultaneously acquire data from all the channels i.e., current and voltage of I-V curve, ambient temperature, cell temperature and irradiance from photodiode or reference cell and will send the data to dual core processor (RT) for further analysis. RT processor then process the acquired data and plots a graph between voltage and current. From the graphical interpretation, different parameters of PV module are measured and calculated like fill factor, efficiency, maximum power point etc. The performance of the I-V curve tracer is evaluated by comparing it with the standard curve of reference PV module.

Capcactive load method is used to obtain I-V curve. According to in capacitor load method PV module is directly connected in parallel with capacitor.When light energy fall on PV panel it charges the capacitor. During Charge time Voltage vary from 0 to Voc of module and Current vary from Isc to 0.

To Achieve Accuracy in measurement two thing should be considered.

1. Adjust the value of capacitor as must high as to increase charging time
2. Measurement device that has high data rate(FPGA)

Benefits of the Project

Benefits are  the deliverable obejctives which we set at the start of our project. Basically these are the goals which we intend to achive which will be its benifits

•A cost-efficient PV module testing machine to analyze the Electrical characteristics of PV module by tracing its I-V curve Performance modeling that can be in reach of domestic energy consumer

•Our Facility gives the more versatile informative measurement(STC,PVUSA) that can be performed on a PV module or array or even a cell.

•Health of the PV-Module

•Annual energy report

•System performance baselines and actual Warranty claim data of PV-Module

•Automated generated detailed testing reports

•Reduced system down time(My Rio FPGA)

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

This project has a main structure and a secondary stucture. Functionality of main structure includes a stand that hold up PV module under test and Irradiance Sensor is attached on it facing upward, toward light source. Two DC Motor are there for North-South and East-West movement of solar tracker which are movable.PV panel face upward where light source is present facing downward. Secondary Structure is one holding the light source. light source  is mouted on secondary stucture which can be moved horizently  or vertically by stepper moter. Rest Iradience sensor, temperature sensor, current sensor, voltage sensor are used in the PCB. 
A relay circuit is connected to the secondary stucture with the light source for on/off and is powered by AC. Two relays are connected with the current sensor and the voltage sensor for measuring the Isc and Voc for forming the IV- Curve and then it is processed by the FPGA processor ZNQ-7020 dual core processor which is capable of true paralle processing and the report is automatiacly generated in the software.It is a dual core processor with ddr3.Main reason for using this FPGA is its clock Speed  40MHz which is more then enough for your Current and Voltage data Acquisition from our sensors and its capability for true parallel processing which enables the microcontroller to have more values of current and voltage at knee point (Curve) and providing us with accurate cell characterization

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry Energy Other IndustriesCore Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and ProductionRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	75235
Main Stucture Stand	Equipment	1	17500	17500
Secondary Source Stand	Equipment	1	9800	9800
Dual Axis Solar Tracking Kit	Equipment	1	34570	34570
Stepper Moters	Equipment	2	1500	3000
PV-Panel(30W)	Equipment	1	1800	1800
Light Source(Halogen Bulb 1500W)	Miscellaneous	1	3000	3000
Temperature Sensor	Miscellaneous	1	700	700
Polythene Transparent Sheet(3 feet))	Miscellaneous	1	3375	3375
Capacitors 22uF	Miscellaneous	8	120	960
Current Sensor	Miscellaneous	1	250	250
Voltage Sensor	Miscellaneous	1	40	40
Relay Circuit	Miscellaneous	3	80	240