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Solving design and operation problems of photovoltaic systems using spreadsheets

Psimenos Evangelos

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Summary

The purpose of this thesis is to study the various aspects of photovoltaic technology and to develop Excel worksheets which solve problems related with it. The material of the study, along with the solution to the corresponding problems, is presented progressively: from the study of the available resource (solar radiation) in chapter 1, to the analysis of the technologies which captures that resource (photovoltaic cells and panels) in chapter 2, ending with the study of systems of these technologies (photovoltaic systems) in chapter 3. Specifically, the first chapter introduces basic concepts concerning the relative motion of the Earth and the Sun as well as the various characteristics of solar radiation (e.g., sun deviation and solar constant). Then follows the description of one of the many models which are used to estimate solar radiation, namely the Lui – Jordan model. The problem solved with the help of Excel in this chapter is an application of this model in order to estimate the solar radiation incident on a surface of a specific slope given the corresponding measurements for a flat surface.The second chapter includes an in – depth analysis of the photovoltaic technology beginning from its structural element i.e., the photovoltaic cell which then expands to the photovoltaic panel. Having described the photovoltaic phenomenon and the working principles of the photovoltaic cells, the mathematical models of the photovoltaic cells and panels are presented. In addition, the effect of temperature and solar radiation on the performance of photovoltaic technology is analyzed. The problems solved with the help of Excel in the second chapter focus on drawing the characteristic curve of current and voltage for both a photovoltaic cell as well as a panel and studying the effect of temperature and solar radiation based on the previous analysis.Finally, the third chapter describes photovoltaics’ peripheral equipment such as batteries, inventers, charge regulators and more, the combination of which creates various photovoltaic systems. The problem solved with the help of Excel in the third chapter concerns the design and analysis of a photovoltaic system serving an autonomous house.During the development of the Excel worksheets, the aim was to automate the solution as much as possible. In each worksheet, the fundamental logic is that the user fills in the input data of each problem and its solution is produced automatically and with the minimum possible involvement of the user.This thesis can be considered as an easy-to-use and interactive educational tool aimed at those interested in photovoltaic technology.

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