Norwegian scientists have examined a brand new floating PV system idea at a water reservoir in Sri Lanka. The system is manufactured from composite beams to help the photo voltaic panels and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes to offer buoyancy.
Scientists from Norway’s Institute for Power Know-how just lately examined a novel floating PV system design developed by Norwegian startup Present Photo voltaic on a physique of water in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka.
The system has a capability of 44 kW and makes use of composite beams to help the photo voltaic panels. It options high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes to offer system buoyancy.
“The composite beams are organized in east-west orientation with a 15-degree tilt and the photo voltaic panels are mounted in portrait mode for optimum utilization of the standard-length HDPE pipe,” the researchers stated. “4 of the strings are west dealing with, whereas the opposite 4 are east dealing with.”
They used two completely different sorts of photo voltaic panels supplied by Norway-based REC Group – the REC Photo voltaic N-Peak 315 W and the REC Photo voltaic TwinPeak 295 W.
“Every string accommodates 18 modules, and for every module sort there are two strings dealing with west and two strings dealing with east, giving a complete of eight strings within the FPV system,” the researchers stated. “Every pair of strings with the identical module sort and orientation is related in parallel to a separate most energy level tracker (MPPT) on the identical inverter.”
The inverter is a 50 kW SMA machine with a complete of 6 MPPTs. The group describes the system as having a small footprint and a comparatively open construction, because the modules are positioned near the water floor.
The group in contrast the efficiency of the floating array with a reference 2.5 kW set up on the reservoir’s shore for a interval of a 12 months. The reference system consists of eight south-facing REC Photo voltaic N-Peak 315 W sort modules with an 8-degree tilt.
The teachers found that the floating PV set up didn’t have any efficiency points. Nevertheless, the dam at which it was put in had been dry for a while.
“In comparison with the carefully located ground-mounted PV system, the relative yield distinction throughout instances of steady efficiency is 0.6% in favor of the FPV system, which is throughout the margin of error of put in capability and isn’t thought-about a considerable distinction in efficiency,” they acknowledged. “The outcomes present an general efficiency of the system in the identical vary as different floating PV techniques positioned in comparable climates.”
They offered their findings in “The performance and amphibious operation potential of a new floating photovoltaic technology,” which was just lately revealed in Photo voltaic Power.
“To evaluate the degradation and reliability of the system, three years of operational information is required and will probably be reported on a later stage,” they stated.
