Preliminary+PV+Panel+Test+Experiment


 * Date: ** 14th June 2011

The purpose of the experiment is to establish the correct measurement procedures and document preliminary tests on the effect of temperature on a PV panel corresponding to:
 * Experiment: ** (Preliminary Testing) Effect of PV panel temperature on Voltage and Current
 * Methodology: **


 * Short Circuit Current (Isc)
 * Open circuit Voltage (Voc)
 * Max Power (Pmax)


 * Apparatus: **


 * BP solar PV panel


 * Instruments: **


 * Mac Solar E Solar Radiation Measuring Device.
 * Digital Multi-meter
 * Raytex infra-red Thermometer


 * Procedure: **


 * 1) Place the PV Panel in direct sunlight and set the optimum tilt angle of the PV Panel taking into account, Longitude, Latitude, time of day and year. This method will in theory give maximum power output.
 * 2) Attach the Digital multi meter to the outputs located at the rear of the PV panel. Place the Digital multi meter within view to interpret both Short Circuit Current and Open Circuit Voltage.
 * 3) Angle and centre the Insolation Meter parallel to the PV Panel to deduce the solar irradiance in W/m².
 * 4) Using the thermometer note the temperature on the surface of the PV panel.
 * 5) Record each result and reference to standard test conditions.


 * Observations: **


 * Date of Experiment: 14th June 2011 **
 * Time Frame of Experiment: 13:30pm – 16:00pm **

Following a meeting with the project supervisor, a team based decision to undertake the preliminary stage of the solar panel testing was established.

Research on Solar Power was undertaken by the team to establish the optimum tilt angle for a solar PV panel for mid-summer collection (30 ° From the horizontal) and the time of maximum solar inclination (solar noon = 1:25 PM for Dublin, Ireland).

Within the timeframe of 13:30pm – 16:00pm the BP solar panel was placed in direct sunlight outside the college workshop.

Experiment procedures commenced and results were deduced. Three separate test conditions were completed during the time of experimentation. This involved adjusting the angle of the PV Panel from a horizontal placement, in addition to both 30 ° and 45 ° to the horizontal.

Although standard test conditions were met through the experiment, little change in weather led to a limited difference in test results.

Shading across the PV panel was also problematic due to the external wall of the college workshop. As a result, this caused slight disruption to the experiment. Cloud conditions also affected analysis of solar radiation.


 * Results: **


 * Angle of Inclination || Irradiance (W/m2) || Open circuit Voltage (Voc) || Short Circuit Current (Isc) || Temperature ||
 * 45 ||  232  ||  20.34  ||  0.92  ||  25  ||
 * 30 ||  290  ||  20.48  ||  1.13  ||  25  ||
 * 0 ||  500  ||  20.53  ||  1.42  ||  27  ||


 * Typical Values of global solar irradiance according to Met Eireann **

Summer Average = 548 – 644 W/m² (40 – 47%) Very Sunny Day (High Visibility) = 940 W/m² (69%) Winter Average = 411 – 507 W/m² (30 – 37%) Dull Day = 274 W/m² (20%)


 * Solar inclination details according to Met Eireann **

June 14th Sunrise = 4.56 am Sunset = 21.53 pm  Solar Noon = 13.25 pm


 * Calculations: **

Due to the experiment providing results close to standard test conditions this is an example of how to calculate Isc, Voc and Pmax if the temperature of the panel is 45°C:


 * Example: **

Temperature of panel = 45°C Temperature at standard test conditions = 25°C

Temperature rise = **__ 20 __****__ °C __**

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 * Temperature coefficient of Isc = 0.065 **** % / **** °C **
 * Temperature coefficient of Voc = -80 mv / **** °C **
 * Temperature coefficient of Pmax = -0.5 % / **** °C **

When the panel is at 45 °C


 * Isc ** = 3.99 + (20 * (3.99 * 0.065%)) = **__4.04187A__**
 * Voc ** = 22.1 – (20 * 0.08) = **__ 20.5V __**
 * Pmax ** = 65 – (20 * (65 * 0.5%)) = **__ 58.5W __**


 * Conclusions: **

Although Standard test conditions were met, it was clear that both weather and location circumstances affected the experiment. Low readings of solar radiation led to similar results within the allocated time frame. Shading from the external wall also caused disruption. Cloudy weather prevented the opportunity to achieve maximum output of the PV Panel.

The team found that future testing of PV panel will primarily involve allocating a wider timeframe based around the solar noon of a clear, bright day. This will in theory provide the team with the opportunity to record the highest possible output of the PV panel and provide a wider range of results.

Also, whilst the readings for Voc and Isc would appear to suggest that the optimum tilt angle is horizontal, what actually happened was that in tilting the panel back to a horizontal position, the bottom portion of it came out of the shade of the building and became fully exposed to direct solar radiation, albeit at an angle 30 degrees from the Normal.