Journal of Renewable Energy and Technology

Control strategy of a standalone variable speed wind energy conversion system based on direct drive permanent magnet synchronous generator

Messaoud MAYOUF — 2022-11-11

In this paper, we propose a control strategy for a stand-alone wind energy conversion system (WECS) based on a direct drive permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), loaded on a DC-type charge. In the considered wind-power generating system, the generator provides a DC voltage to the load through a three-phase rectifier, controlled by the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technique. The main control strategy target is to maintain the DC voltage insensitive to fast changes in wind speed and load, by offsetting the generator output current with the charge current. The approach adopted in this paper is based on the estimate of the PMSG electromagnetic torque assuming that wind velocity remains quasi-stationary in a steady state. The instant power reference is assessed by the charge controller according to the rated DC bus voltage, using actual electrical measurements as the voltage and current. To achieve adequately the power decoupling, the field-oriented control is used with conventional PI-type regulators to provide direct and quadrature control reference voltages and ensure DC bus voltage regulation. To assess the proposed control strategy efficiency, the simulation model was subjected to different load and wind speed variations. Simulation results performed using the MATLAB Simulink model show high accuracy and strength during steady-state and transient operations.

Numerical and experimental investigations of heat transfer inside a rectangular channel with a new tilt angle of baffles for solar air heater

Zouhair Aouissi — 2022-11-11

This work represents an experimental and numerical study of heat transfer by forced convection inside a channel containing the baffles of a solar collector. The study chose the shape of the baffles as an important factor to improve heat exchange, which has a rectangular shape and is transversal with air flowing at an angle of inclination ? = 90 degrees. The study was conducted at different mass flow rates and different times of the day, to find out the effect of these conditions on the convective heat transfer from the absorber plate to the air through the channel of the collector. The operating conditions taken from the experiment were entered as boundary conditions in CFD, for a comparative study between the heat transfer coefficient by convection of the measurement data, and the simulation data. It was found that the results of it in the numerical and experimental methods gave a good approach, also it can be concluded that this coefficient was affected by different parameters such as the mass flow rate, absorber temperature, and shape of the baffles. Through the results, it was confirmed that when the Reynolds number increases, it means an increase in velocity, which means that the air passing through the duct becomes cooler, therefore there is a difference in temperature between the passing air and the absorber plate, and this leads to an increase in heat transfer between the air and the absorber plate.

A highly efficient InGaP thin film solar cell structure, optimization and characteristics

Fatiha Djaafar — 2024-01-31

Inorganic solar cells based on III-V semiconductor materials are widely used owing to their high efficiencies. In this work, we aim to improve the performance of the single heterojunction solar cell InGaP. The InGaP cell is constituted of a back surface field (BSF), a base, an emitter and a window layer with InAlAsP material. The simulation is done after optimization, modeling, and choice of the used materials and the thickness of different layers constituting the solar cell. The choice of materials whose gap energy is decreasing allows the absorption of the solar spectrum in its almost totality. Then, we varied the temperature to know its effects on the gap energy and the efficiency of the InGaP cell. The InGaP and solar cell with optimal parameters are illuminated by an AM1.5 solar spectrum through InAlAsP window layer. The simulation and optimization at 300K of short circuit current parameters (J_sc), open circuit voltage (V_oc), fill factor (FF) and efficiency (?) are done using Tcad Silvaco software. The characteristics obtained are: the minimized thickness of 665 nm, electrical efficiency is about ? = 21.87% for InGaP cell, Jsc = 14.43 mA/cm2, Voc = 1.63 V, and FF = 91.21 %.

Assessment of the performance of Photovoltaic system in high altitude region of Jos, Nigeria

John Mkohol Uzer — 2024-09-28

This study examined two years of temperature, humidity, and irradiance data collected at intervals of fiv minutes for the city of Jos, Nigeria to determine the relationship between temperatures Photovoltaic system voltage, and power output. Descriptive statistical tools were used to investigate the relationship between temperature, power output, and voltage. There is a wider range of responses to temperature change in the output power. The findings showed that the power output values range from 227.82 kWh to 950.10 kWh, and Voltage values range from 14.41 V to 16.12 V. Additionally, the average monthly temperature ranged from 20.42 ? to 25.76 ?. The result shows a positive correlation between temperature below standard test condition (STC = 25 ^oC), and high output power, while a high temperature above STC negatively affects the output power. Notably, Jos has a higher power output and voltage while maintaining the lowest average temperature compared to other locations within the region. The study concludes that power output and voltage are strongly and inversely related to temperature, refuting the notion that operating solar panels above STC would improve performance.