Photovoltaic stand-alone modular systems. Phase 2. Final Report

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:6897840

Naff, G J; Marshall, N A

The final hardware and system qualification phase of a two part stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system development is covered. The final design incorporated modular, power blocks capable of expanding incrementally from 320 watts to twenty kilowatts (PK). The basic power unit (PU) was nominally rated 1.28 kWp. The controls units, power collection buses and main lugs, electrical protection subsystems, power switching, and load management circuits are housed in a common control enclosure. Photo-voltaic modules are electrically connected in a horizontal daisy-chain method via Amp Solarlok plugs mating with compatible connectors installed on the back side of each photovoltaic module. A pair of channel rails accommodate the mounting of the modules into a frameless panel support structure. Foundations are of a unique planter (tub-like) configuration to allow for world-wide deployment without restriction as to types of soil. One battery string capable of supplying approximately 240 ampere hours nominal of carryover power is specified for each basic power unit. Load prioritization and shedding circuits are included to protect critical loads and selectively shed and defer lower priority or noncritical power demands. The baseline system, operating at approximately 2 1/2 PUs (3.2 kW pk.) was installed and deployed. Qualification was successfully complete in March 1983. Since that time, the demonstration system has logged approximately 3000 hours of continuous operation under load without major incident.

• Research Organization: Hughes Aircraft Co., Long Beach, CA (USA). Support Systems
• OSTI ID: 6897840
• Report Number(s): N-83-35497; NASA-CR-168230
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140600* -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
POWER RANGE 1-10 KW
POWER RANGE 100-1000 W
SOLAR POWER PLANTS