SERF photovoltaic systems. Technical report on system performance for the period, August 1, 1994--July 31, 1995
This report presents an analysis of performance data on the two identical, 6 kW{sub ac}, grid-connected photovoltaic systems located on the roof of the Solar Energy Research Facility building at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. The data cover the monitoring period August 1, 1994, to July 31, 1995, and the performance parameters analyzed include direct current and alternating current power, aperture-area efficiency, energy, capacity factor, and performance index. These parameters are compared to plane-of-array irradiance, ambient temperature, and back-of-module temperature as a function of time, either daily or monthly. We also obtained power ratings of the systems for data corresponding to different test conditions. This study has shown, in addition to expected seasonal trends, that system monitoring is a valuable tool in assessing performance and detecting faulty equipment. Furthermore, methods applied for this analysis may be used to evaluate and compare systems using cells of different technologies. The systems were both found to be operating at approximately 7% below their estimated rating, which was based on Photovoltaics for Utility-Scale Applications test conditions. This may be attributed to the design inverter efficiency being estimated at 95% compared to measured values of approximately 88%, as well as the fact that aperture-area efficiency that was overestimated at 12.8% compared to a measured value of 11.0%. The continuous monitoring also revealed faulty peak-power point tracking equipment.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-83CH10093;
- OSTI ID:
- 258185
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP--411-21285; ON: DE96007894
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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