Case study of a central-station grid-intertie photovoltaic system with V-trough concentration

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(91)90093-C· OSTI ID:5138996

Freilich, J; Gordon, J M ^[1]

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1. Ben-Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Sede Boqer (Israel)

This presentation is a cast study of an installed, central-station (no storage), utility-intertie photovoltaic (PV) system in Sede Boqer, Israel (latitude 30.9{degree}N). The nominally 12 kW peak PV system is comprised of 189 polycrystalline silicon modules mounted on inexpensive, one-axis north-south horizontal trackers with V-trough mirrors for optical boost. The power conditioning unit operates at a fixed voltage rather than at maximum power point (MPP). The primary task in analyzing the installed system was to investigate the cause of measured power output significantly below the design predictions of the installers, and to recommend system design modifications. Subsequent tasks included the quantitative assessment of fixed-voltage operation and of the energetic value of V-trough concentration and one-axis tracking for this system. Sample results show: (1) fixed-voltage operation at the best fixed voltage (BFV) can achieve around 96% of the yearly energy of MPP operation; (2) the sensitivity of the yearly energy delivery to the selection of fixed voltage and its marked asymmetry about the BFV; (3) the influences of inverter current constraints on yearly energy delivery and BFV; and (4) how the separate effects of tracking and optical concentration increase yearly energy delivery.

• OSTI ID: 5138996
• Journal Information: Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (United States), Vol. 46:5; ISSN 0038-092X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ISRAEL
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
DESIGN
PERFORMANCE
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MODIFICATIONS
OPERATION
POWER CONDITIONING CIRCUITS
POWER RANGE 10-100 KW
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEMS
V TROUGH COLLECTORS
ASIA
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
HELIOSTATS
KILOWATT POWER RANGE
MIDDLE EAST
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWER PLANTS
POWER RANGE
SIMULATION
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR TRACKING
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems