SMALL SCALE PV SOLAR SYSTEMS
SMALL SCALE PV SOLAR SYSTEMS
With a budding do-it-yourself (DIY) alternative power industry, and the acceptance of environmentally friendly “green energy” by the general public, some enthusiasts have progressed to building their own PV solar systems for their houses.
Typically, a DIY energy system is comprised of inexpensive and/or high efficiency systems (eg. systems with solar tracking) to manufacture power. Because of this, the DIY systems are usually cheaper than their commercial counterparts.
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More likely than not, the system is connected to the local utility power grid to repay some of the initial investment via net metering. These DIY systems typically generate a power amount of 2kW or less and are commonly utilized in emerging countries to power residences and small businesses.
Mounting Systems
PV systems are built into arrays onto some type of mounting system. When solar parks are utilized, a large rack is mounted on the ground, and the modules are mounted on the rack. For other types of buildings, racks have been customized to accommodate flat roofs, racks and binds.
Trackers
A solar tracker can significantly enhance the power production output of a system by regulating and improving its performance. However, it is only practical to install trackers for non-concentrating applications in direct sunlight locations. In diffuse light (eg. under cloud or fog), tracking provides no value. Moreover, a tracker is absolutely necessary for concentrated photovoltaic systems.
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System Performance
Solar tracking allows PV arrays to track the sun throughout the day to greatly improve the system’s energy collection. However, the addition of tracking devices increases the total cost of the system and also requires consistent maintenance.
It is more common for PV arrays to have fixed mounts that tilt the array towards the solar source. This tilt angle can be recalibrated depending on the season, but if it is fixed, then it should be set for optimal output during the peak electrical demand portion.
In larger PV systems, the energy collected by using a solar tracker outweighs the added cost and maintenance. Solar trackers can increase a system’s efficiency by 30% or more. PV arrays that exceed one megawatt of energy output typically use solar trackers.
Also, when building a small scale PV system, it is prudent to remember that photovoltaic cells’ electrical output is extremely sensitive to shade. If even a small portion of a cell, module, or array is shaded (with the remainder in sunlight), the system’s output dramatically decreases due to an internal “short-circuiting” (ie. the electrons reversing course because of the shaded portion of the p-n junction). Thus it is very important not to install a PV array that could be shaded by trees, building features, or other obstacles.
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About the Author
Laser applications in Photovoltaic (solar cells)
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