A MAXIMUM POWERPOINT TRACKING SCHEME FOR STAND-ALONE SOLAR ENERGY BASED POWER SUPPLY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

CHAPTER ONE

1.0    Introduction

1.1   Background of Study

1.2   Statement of Problems

1.3   Research Objectives

1.4   Research Question

1.5   Research Hypothesis   

1.6   Scope of Study

1.7   Significance of study

1.8   Limitation of study

1.9   Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO

2.0   Literature Review

CHAPTER THREE

3.0   Research methodology

3.1   Research Design

3.2   Population of study

3.3   Sampling Design and Procedure

3.4   Data Collection Instrument

3.5   Administration of Data Collection Instrument

3.6   Methods of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0   Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1   Data Presentation  

4.2   Test of Hypothesis 

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0   Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1   Summary

5.2   Conclusion

5.3    Recommendation

References

Questionnaire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This work is concerned with the features, analysis and design of a stand-alone solar energy based power supply with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) scheme. The features and operations of various types of solar cells and panels and the performance characteristics under varying temperature and irradiance conditions are studied. Subsequently, various methods of maximum solar power point tracking methods are reviewed. From the results of the review of similar works in literature, two most popular maximum power point tracking methods were selected and their detailed operational features were analyzed, designed and the performance characteristics presented. Those methods are the perturbation and observation (P&O) method and the incremental conductance (InCond) method using the Cuks or SEPIC dc to dc converter operating in the discontinuous capacitor voltage mode (DCVM) and/ or discontinuous inductor current mode (DICM). The results of the analysis show that incremental conductance method has superior performance characteristics when compared to the perturbation and observation method. With the incremental conductance method, the problem of sustained oscillation around the maximum power point of the solar panel which is the usual characteristic of the perturbation and observation method is essentially absent. Furthermore, the power available for the load when MPPT is applied is 1.1 kW which gives a tolerance of 0.1% to the load it powers. But without MPPT, the available power is 0.9 kW using the same number of PV panels and batteries. MPPT has 17.65% edge in power delivery over non-MPPT PV powered energy supply. An experimental prototype of a 1kW, 230V, 50Hz stand-alone solar based power supply with the incremental conductance scheme was successfully built and tested. The experimental results agreed with the predicted results.