Sustainable Renewable Energy Engineering

Spring 2019-2020
Solar PV Systems Lab
Experiment 5
Characterizations of PV Operating
Outdoor
Students’ Names ID’s#
Sara Rami U17100214
Aryam Raafat U17104443
Shatha T. A. Thabet U1520309
Khadija Abdulla U15102721

Lab Instructor Dr. Di Zhang

Lab Engineer Eng. Monadhel
Experiment Date & Time 25-2-2020, Tuesday, 11:00AM
Submission Date 3-3-2020, Tuesday, 11:00AM
Table of Contents: -

List of Figures and Tables Page 2

Introduction Page 3
Objective Page 5
Equipment Page 5
Procedure and Useful Data Page 5
Experimental Data and Calculations Page 6
Graphs Page 8
Discussion Page 11

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 Conclusion Page 12
References Page 12

Lists of Figures and Tables: -

Figure 1 Apparent daily path of the sun across the sky from sunrise
to sunset.
Figure 2 EoT over all the days of a year
Figure 3 Beam (direct) and diffuse irradiance in Abu dhabi on 22nd
Feb
Table 1 Parameters for Sharjah
Table 2 Horizontal irradiance and reference irradiance
Table 3 Tilt angle conditions
Table 4 STC parameters

Introduction:

Solar altitude angle, γ :

The solar altitude angle is the angle between the sun’s rays and a horizontal plane, as shown
in the figure below. It is related to the solar zenith angle, Φ, which is the angle between the sun’s
rays and the vertical.

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 Figure 1: Apparent daily path of the sun across
the sky from sunrise to sunset.

The mathematical expression for the solar altitude angle is:

sin( γ )=cos(Φ)=sin(L)sin(δ)+cos(L)cos(δ)cos(w)
where L = local latitude, defined as the angle between a line from the center of the earth to the
site of interest and the equatorial plane. Values north of the equator are positive and those south
are negative.

Equation of Time (EoT)

The equation of time (EoT) (in minutes) is an empirical equation that corrects for the eccentricity
of the Earth's orbit and the Earth's axial tilt.

EoT=9.87sin(2B)−7.53cos(B)−1.5sin(B)EoT
Where :-

B=360365(d−81)B=360365(d−81)
in degrees and d is the number of days since the start of the year. The time correction EoT is
plotted in the figure below.

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 Figure 2: EoT over all the days of a year

Local Solar Time (LST)

The Local Solar Time (LST) can be found by using the previous two corrections to adjust the
local time (LT).

⋀
LST =UTC +1 h∙
15°

Hour Angle (HRA or w)

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The Hour Angle converts the local solar time (LST) into the number of degrees which the sun
moves across the sky. The Hour Angle is 0° at solar noon. Since the Earth rotates 15° per hour,
each hour away from solar noon corresponds to an angular motion of the sun in the sky of 15°. In
the morning the hour angle is negative, in the afternoon the hour angle is positive.

Objectives:

1- Learn to apply the concept of solar altitude and the azimuth angle, using outdoor Profitest
system.
2- Calculate the angle of incidence for different cases.
3- Calculate the Local Solar Time, and the performance of the PV.

Equipment:

 PV panels
 Cables
 Profitest system
 Reference cell
 Thermal couple sensor
 PC
 Angle meter app

Procedure:

1- Connect the panel with the profitest.

2- Calculate the solar altitude and azimuth at the current time for Sharjah (25.346
° °
3 N , 55. 420 9 E ) depending on the latitude, longitude, day number, solar declination,
ET, Local Solar time and hour angle.
3- Set your panel at angle that gives a high irradiance. Record the reading from the
irradiance sensor. (note: the sensor reading is the sum of direct and diffuse irradiance

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 received by the panel). Using LST read the reference irradiance, find the beam, diffuse
and global irradiance.
4- Measure the performance of your tilt PV panel.
5- Repeat measurement for two different β (angle meter app can be used to measure the
° °
angle). If possible, one of the β should satisfy θ=90 −( β+ γ s )=0 . Complete table 3.
6- Record the STC parameter and temperature coefficients from the nameplate of the panel
(usually on the panel backside) .

Calculations:

Sharjah (25.5 ˚N , 55.4 ˚E) from

𝜑 = 25.5 ˚N , 𝛬 =55.4 ˚E
February 25th is 56th day of the year
d = 56

𝛿 ¿ 23.45 sin ( 360

365
× ( 284+d ) )=23.45 sin (
360
365
× ( 284+56 )) = -9.78˚

360 360
B= × ( d−81 ) = × ( 56−81 )=−24.72
364 364
ET = 9.87 sin (2 B¿)−7.53 cos ( B )−1.5 sin ( B )=¿ ¿
9.87 sin (2(−24.72)¿ )−7.53cos (−24.72 )−1.5 sin (−24.72 )=¿−13.7 minutes ¿¿
UAE is in the GMT +4 time-zone, 11:00 am
UTC = LT – time-zone = 11 – 4 = 7 hours
Λ 55.4 −13.7
LST = UTC + + ET(in hours) = 7 + + =10.46 hours = 10:28
15 15 60
ω=( LST −12 h ) × 15° =( 10.46−12 ) ×15=−23.1 °
sinγ=sinφ∙ sinδ + cosφ ∙ cosδ ∙ cosω
¿ sin ( 25.5 ) sin (−9.78 ) +cos ( 25.5 ) cos (−9.78 ) cos (−23.1 )=0.74
−1
γ=sin ( 0.74 )=48.16 °

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 cosδ ∙ sinω cos (−9.78 ) sin ⁡(−23.1)
sinα= = =−0.58
cosγ cos ⁡(48.16)
−1
α =sin (−0.58 )=−35.42 °
Experimental Data:
Parameters for Sharjah on February 25th, 2019 at 11:00
am
Latitude 𝜑 25.5 ˚N
Longitude 𝛬 55.4˚E
Day number d 56
Solar declination 𝛿 -9.78˚
ET (in minutes) -13.7
Local Solar Time LST 10:28 / 10.46 hours
Hour angle 𝜔 -23.1˚
Solar altitude 𝛾𝑆 48.16˚
Solar azimuth 𝛼𝑆 -35.42˚
Table 1: Parameters for Sharjah

10.46

A1. Horizontal A2. Reference of Abu

irradiance sensor Dhabi
reading (𝛽 = 0°)

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Beam irradiance (W/m2) 880
Diffuse irradiance (W/m2) 110
Global irradiance (beam+diffuse) 974 990
(W/m2)
Error = A1global – A2global (W/m2) 974-990 = -16

Measure the Performance of your horizontal PV Panel (B=17)

STC PARAMETERS AND TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENTS
ISC, [A] 3.16
VOC, [V] 22.2
PMAX, [W] 50
AS, [M2] Table 2: Horizontal irradiance and 0.348
NOCT [℃] reference irradiance 45
AMBIENT TEMP. [℃] 24
ΑV ( %/℃ ) -0.34%
ΑI ( %/℃ ) +0.037%
ΑP ( %/℃ ) -0.48%
Imp ×Vmp 1.591 ×15.591
η= = × 100=7.23 %
E× A 974 × 0.348

Tilt conditions Angle of incidence 𝜃 = Irradiance sensor Module

90° − (𝛽 + 𝛾𝑆) reading (W/m2) temperature (℃)
𝛽0 17° 90 – (17+48.16) = 24.84 974 46.7
𝛽1 37° 90 – (37+48.16) = 4.84 1036 48.5
𝛽2 52° 90 – (52+48.16) = -10.16 1003 48.4

Table 3: Tilt angle conditions

I-V Curves for Different B

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1.8
1.6
1.4 Table 4: STC parameters
Graphs: 1.2
Current (A)

B=37
1 B=17
0.8 B=52
0.6
0.4
0.2 8
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Volatge (V)
 P-V Curves for Different B
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25

20
Power (W)

B=37
15 B=17
B=52
10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Volatge (V)

Question #3:

Using Table 3, plot irradiance sensor reading (W/m2) vs. cos𝜃 and perform linear curve
fitting (since 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡_𝑔𝑒𝑛 = 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡_𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 ∙cos𝜃 if we ignore diffuse irradiance). Is your
result a good fit to a linear curve?

Irradinace vs cos Ɵ
1060

1040 1036
Irradinace (W/m^2)

1020 f(x) = 583.175228560949 x + 442.884881087652

1000 1003

980
974
960

940
0.9 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.98 1 1.02

9 CosƟ
Yes, the result is a good fit to a linear curve

**ALL CALCULATIONS ARE BASED ON B=17 INSTEAD OF B=0

Question #4:

For 𝛽 = 0°, calculate the module temperature from NOCT in Table 4, and compare to the
temperature sensor reading in Table 3.

NOCT =45 ˚ C
NOCT −20 45−20
Tpv=Tamb+ × E=24 + ×974=54.43 ˚ C
800 800
Our sensor Temperature was 46.7˚C , error= 14.2%.

Question #5:

For 𝛽 = 0°, using the STC values from Table 4 while applying equations from Experiment
#4, calculate the expected (1) ISC, (2) VOC and (3) Pmax under the recorded temperature
and irradiance (from Table 3).
 You must show the detailed calculation with equations for all three parameters
considering both effects of irradiance and temperature.
 Compare your calculated results to the actual measurement results.

Isc under STC = 3.16 A

Voc under STC = 22.2 V
Pmax under STC = 50 W
VT = 26 mV = 0.026 V
NOCT = 45˚C
Tpv=54.43 ˚ C

974
Isc (at 974W/m2, 25˚C) = 3.16 × = 3.077A
1000
∆ I = αI × ∆ T = 0.037% × (54.43-25) = 1.088%
Isc (at 974W/m2, 54.43˚C) = 3.077 + 1.088%*3.077 = 3.11 A

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 974
Pmax(at 974W/m2, 25˚C) ≅ 50 × = 48.7 W
1000
∆ P = αP × ∆ T = -0.48% × (40.8-25) = -14.12%
Pmax (at 974W/m2, 54.43˚C) = 48.7 – 14.12%*48.7 = 41.82 W

974
Voc (at 974W/m2, 25˚C) = Voc(STC) + nVTln( )=
1000
22.2 +36×(0.026)×ln(0.974) = 22.17 V
∆ V = αV × ∆ T = -0.34% × (54.43-25) = -10%
Voc (at 974W/m2, 54.43˚C) = 22.17 – 10%*22.17 = 19.95 V

Actual values:
Voc= 19.73 V
Error= 1.11%
Isc= 1.77 A
Error= 75.7%
Pmax= 24.82 W
Error= 68.49%

Discussion:

• This experiment was done by operating PV panel outdoor by applying the concepts of
solar angles altitude and azimuth using the outdoor profit-test system.
• To apply the concepts, we must theoretically solve to find the tilt angle by using the
solar angles to get the solar declination, Local Solar Hours and Hour angle.
• According to our data observation 𝛽 max = 37° which has the highest irradiance.
• The maximum irradiance power max = 1036 W/m^2 , at 𝛽 max = 37° according to
our process.
• After finding the tilt angle which has the optimum irradiance, we started operating PV
panel outdoor positioned at three different tilt conditions.
• Then we found the beam irradiance, diffuse irradiance and global irradiance for a
certain reference (Abu Dhabi).
• By using the tilt condition, we found the angle of incidence and finally recorded the
STC parameters and temperature coefficients.

Sources of Error:

• Due to theoretical miscalculation of the tilt angle.

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 • PV panel not positioned in the correct direction.
• By shading the PV panel like student passing in front of PV, while data being
recorded.
• Using bricks to hold the module instead of a practical stand which caused shaking and
instability during capturing the sun irradiance .
• The humidity and weather conditions.
• The dissimulation of profit system with the PV panel.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the aim of this experiment has been successfully achieved by applying the
concepts of solar altitude and azimuth angles practically using the outdoor profitest system so we
understood the significance of the altitude angle and azimuth angle to get the best tilt angle as
well as the best angle of incidence. Moreover, the angle of incidence has been calculated and the
performance of PV panel has been studied.

References:

- Solar PV Lab Manual

- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/solar-altitude-angle
- https://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/properties-of-sunlight/solar-time

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