The shrinking of the world’s energy sources has prompted an unprecedented interest in renewable and clean energy sources such as photovoltaic (solar) array. Already popular in space and some industrial power system applications, photovoltaic arrays have yet to become a viable source of energy for most terrestrial applications. For several decades now, engineers have been striving to design reliable and affordable solar array based power systems. One popular approach to achieve reliability is the integration of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology in solar power system design. The purpose of this study was to gain more insight into the nature of photovoltaic arrays, in order to help engineers improve solar array systems efficiency and reliability. To this end, a detailed analysis and modeling of the electrical properties and parameters of solar arrays have been presented. Shading effects on solar arrays, as well as the benefits of incorporating MPPT technology in photovoltaic systems have also been studied. Finally an application of MPPT to grid connected systems will be introduced as part of the ongoing efforts of the Power Electronics Lab at the University of Central Florida to participate in the 2005 Future Energy Challenge.

Honors Project--Smith College, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-50).

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Gas turbines have achieved widespread popularity in industrial fields. This is due to the high power, reliability, high efficiency, and its use of cheap gas as fuel. However, a major draw-back of gas turbines is due to the strong function of ambient air temperature with its output power. With every degree rise in temperature, the power output drops between 0.54 and 0.9 percent. This loss in power poses a significant problem for utilities, power suppliers, and co-generations, especially during the hot seasons when electric power demand and ambient temperatures are high. One way to overcome this drop in output power is to cool the inlet air temperature. There are many different commercially available means to provide turbine inlet cooling. This disserta-tion reviews the various technologies of inlet air cooling with a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art of inlet fogging systems. In this technique, water vapour is being used for the cooling purposes. Therefore, the water quality requirements have been considered in this thesis. The fog water is generally demin-eralized through a process of Reverse Osmosis (RO). The drawback of fogging is that it re-quires large amounts of demineralized water. The challenge confronting operators using the fogging system in remote locations is the water scarcity or poor water quality availability. However, in isolated hot areas with high levels of radiation making use of solar PV energy to supply inlet cooling system power requirements is a sustainable approach. The proposed work herein is on the development of a photovoltaic (PV) application for driv-ing the fogging system. The design considered for improved generation of Acaica power plant in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, this work intends to provide technical infor-mation and requirements of the fogging system design to achieve additional power output gains for the selected power plant.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Rolla, 2007. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed April 17, 2007) Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-91).

Organic molecules based photovoltaic cells were fabricated in an open laboratory conditions without the use of glove box or clean room. Conducting polymers such as P3HT and PCBM were used as a photo-active layer of the devices. We found significant difference in the performance of the devices by employing two laboratory conditions of the polymer solutions. Enhanced current density has been observed from P3HT/PCBM bulkheterojunction solar cell after diluting a well sonicated polymers solution with fresh chloroform solvent. As the result of such current surge in the devices the efficiency rose to more than double compared to those devices without dilution of the P3HT/PCBM solution. An average power conversion efficiency of 4.5% was then recorded from the new preparation condition. This is an encouraging development toward achieving low cost organic photovoltaic devices. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

High output electrical energy is obtained from photovoltaic (PV) systems subject to high irradiance. However, at high irradiance, the efficiency of PV systems drops due to increase of the temperature of the systems. In order to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic systems, much effort has been spent on developing hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems using water as a coolant to withdraw heat from solar modules. This research is focused on the study of the behavior of hybrid PVT collectors using rectangular channel profiles which provide a large surface for heat exchange between PV panels and thermal collectors unlike the circular channel profile used in conventional PV systems. In hybrid PVT systems, coolant water circulates in a closed circuit by means of the thermosyphon phenomenon and the heat from this water is extracted from a storage tank and can be used in hot water systems instead of an electric geyser. Numerical models of water velocity in channels due to the thermosyphon phenomenon and the temperature of solar modules was developed and a system was designed for modest Durban household demand. A simulation was run for specific summer and winter days comparing a conventional PV system and a hybrid PVT system. The results were very encouraging, and demonstrated that the equipment is capable of extending the PVT application potential in the domestic sector where more than 40% of electricity cost is heating water. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Honsberg, Christiana; Committee Co-Chair: Citrin, David; Committee Member: Doolittle, Alan; Committee Member: First, Phillip; Committee Member: Ralph, Stephen; Committee Member: Rohatgi, Ajeet

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2008. / "December 5, 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaf 55). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.