installation and testing of solar power system

Description

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the information

Solar power systems convert sunlight directly into electricity. A laboratory offices solar power system enables the users to generate some or all of their daily electrical energy demands. The electrical control laboratory 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.

The solar power plants include battery backup or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) capability to operate selected circuits in the laboratory for hours or days during a utility outage. Without batteries, a solar plant will shut down when a utility power outage occurs.  Battery back-up maintains power to some or all of the electric equipment, such as lighting, training modules, or fans, even when a utility power outage occurs.

The solar power plant also includes an inverter which converts the DC power coming from the solar modules or battery bank to AC power. The inverter also ensures that the frequency of the AC cycles is 50 cycles per second and reduces voltage fluctuations. In addition, a charge controller, sometimes referred to as a photovoltaic controller or battery charger, is incorporated to prevent overcharging of the batteries.

Solar power plant is the key to a clean energy future. It is a renewable energy source. Solar panels produce electricity by transforming the continuous flow of energy from the sun to electricity. Also, no harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide are released into the air when electricity is produced and it has a low operating cost since it doesn’t require any fuel and has no variable costs.

1.2  Statement of the problems

The lecturers are usually faced with the problem of power outage whenever they are in their offices, in order t charge their phones or to work on their personal laptops. Most of the go to control laboratory to charge their phones and laptops whenever they want to work. Installation of solar system to electrical laboratory offices will reduce their stress.

Electrical power supply will be available throughout the day so that the lecturers can work in the offices anytime they want without stress or going anywhere to charge.

1.3 Significant of the study

The significant of this project work is to provide continuous power supply to electrical laboratory offices in order for the lecturers to serve its complete purpose to its users at any time of the day. Solar plant is a clean source of energy, safe and environmental friendly. There is increased electricity efficiency considering the short distance of the solar plant to the laboratory offices and it is very durable.

1.4 Objective of the study

The following are the objectives;

• To install and test solar power plant
• To ensure there is continuous supply of electricity to electrical laboratory offices

1.5 Scope of study

This project is about the installation and testing of a solar plant in electrical laboratory offices. The project upon completion is to serve as an alternate source of power supply to the electrical laboratory offices.

 1.4 Limitation of the study

Solar power plants installed for the electrical laboratory offices can only supply simple and basic equipment in the said locations. The power rating for the solar plant is small and cannot be used to power heavy laboratory equipment. Number of batteries installed can only run for few hours and this depends on how often the solar plant is used.

In addition, as a renewable energy source, one limitation of the power Plant is one’s ability to turn it into electricity in a cost-effective way. It has a high installation cost and low conversion efficiency. Noticeable buildup of soiling deposits on the PV arrays can affect the voltage output supply.

1.5       Definition of terms

            Inverter: Inverter Converts the DC power coming from the PV modules or battery bank to AC power. It ensures that the frequency of the AC cycles is 60 cycles per second and helps in reducing voltage fluctuations

            Battery bank: This is the combination of two or more batteries in series. Batteries store direct current electrical energy for later use.

            Charge controller: A charge controller, sometimes referred to as a photovoltaic controller or battery charger, prevents overcharging of the batteries. In addition, charge controllers prevent charge from draining back to solar modules at night.

            Combiner box: Wires from individual PV modules or strings are run to the combiner box. These wires may be single conductor pigtails with connectors that are pre-wired onto the PV modules.  The output of the combiner box is one larger two-wire conductor in conduit.  A combiner box typically includes a safety fuse or breaker for each string and may include a surge protector.

            Solar module: The heart of a photovoltaic system is the solar module.  Many photovoltaic cells are wired together by the manufacturer to produce a solar module.  When installed at a site, solar modules are wired together in series to form strings.  Strings of modules are connected in parallel to form an array.  Photovoltaic solar panels absorb sunlight as a source of energy to generate electricity. It is the combination of several solar cells connected in series.