Masters Theses

Abstract

"For any solar array it is necessary to be able to harness the maximum possible power from it. A new technology is proposed to improve the efficiency of solar arrays and harness maximum potential power as well by connecting the solar panels in parallel. This thesis describes the development of a graphical user interface for the evaluation of this parallel-connected solar array technology and to compare different scenarios for solar arrays to predict the potential power output to decide the best configuration for an application. This is done via several computations and analysis of field data. The first paper describes the setup and deployment of a sensor array, meant to simulate an actual solar array. Data is gathered from the sensor array and analyzed. The first paper also describes the various computations that have been used to develop the graphical user interface and some results.

The second paper deals with the actual user interface. It describes the different screens that the user would encounter, along with the inputs that are required along the way. Each screen is explained in detail along with how the various inputs are processed. A few scenarios are also compared, to quantify the benefits of this new proposed technology.

Various scenarios are compared to analyze both field and randomly generated data. This is done to compare different scenarios, to study the effect of shading and temperature variations, and to analyze the power output in each case. The different scenarios simulate different insolation patterns, different site selection and different configuration topologies"--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Kimball, Jonathan W.

Committee Member(s)

Elmore, A. Curt
Crow, Mariesa

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Sponsor(s)

U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Leonard Wood Institute

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Summer 2011

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

  • Use of data from a sensor array to quantify effects of insolation on solar arrays
  • Development of a GUI for parallel connected solar arrays

Pagination

ix, 85 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references.

Rights

© 2011 Nisha Nagarajan, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Electric power transmission -- Mathematical modelsGraphical user interfaces (Computer systems) -- DesignMathematical optimizationSolar cells -- Materials -- Analysis

Thesis Number

T 9849

Print OCLC #

792860261

Electronic OCLC #

908942295

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