Effects of diffuse radiation on the operation of photovoltaic power plants
Amaripadath, Deepak Sankar (2015)
2015
Master's Degree Programme in Electrical Engineering
Tieto- ja sähkötekniikan tiedekunta - Faculty of Computing and Electrical Engineering
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2015-06-03
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201505151278
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201505151278
Tiivistelmä
Despite the large potential, only a fraction of solar energy reaching earth’s surface is utilized in power production. In recent years the number of photovoltaic power plants in Finland has increased. It is important to learn how different components of solar radiation affect the working of PV power plants. The diffuse radiation component of solar irradiance is relatively difficult to harvest when compared to global and direct radiation. Thus a fraction of solar radiation is lost during energy harvesting. Although it seems like the diffuse radiation only forms a small fraction of total radiation it has a significant effect on working of PV power plants.
Thus it was important to study the radiation profiles from the test location in Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland. The annual variations in solar radiation profiles for past three years were studied to determine the variations in amount of solar radiation received per year. Also seasonal variations were studied to understand how the climatic variables can influence solar irradiance. The effects of cloud variation were also studied by analyzing daily radiation profiles for clear sky and cloudy sky days. The effective ways to harvest diffuse radiation were also studied.
The results showed that during winter the amount of diffuse radiation is almost equal to global radiation. The total amount of irradiance during winter is far lower when compared to summer months. Thus during winter it is important to harvest every available solar energy to ensure maximum production and efficiency. The effects of cloud percentage showed that the amount of diffuse radiation increased with increase in cloud percentage in the sky. Humidity of atmosphere had a similar effect causing increase in amount of diffuse radiation with increase in humidity content in atmosphere. Thus the studies revealed that it was important to ensure that the diffuse radiation component was also harvested by the PV power plants for maximum production and working efficiency.
Thus it was important to study the radiation profiles from the test location in Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland. The annual variations in solar radiation profiles for past three years were studied to determine the variations in amount of solar radiation received per year. Also seasonal variations were studied to understand how the climatic variables can influence solar irradiance. The effects of cloud variation were also studied by analyzing daily radiation profiles for clear sky and cloudy sky days. The effective ways to harvest diffuse radiation were also studied.
The results showed that during winter the amount of diffuse radiation is almost equal to global radiation. The total amount of irradiance during winter is far lower when compared to summer months. Thus during winter it is important to harvest every available solar energy to ensure maximum production and efficiency. The effects of cloud percentage showed that the amount of diffuse radiation increased with increase in cloud percentage in the sky. Humidity of atmosphere had a similar effect causing increase in amount of diffuse radiation with increase in humidity content in atmosphere. Thus the studies revealed that it was important to ensure that the diffuse radiation component was also harvested by the PV power plants for maximum production and working efficiency.