Practical Class
Short Term Training - PV Power Project Training 
This is the Photovoltaic Project Analysis Training Module of Institute of Solar Technology. Here we discuss the operation and application of photovoltaic energy systems, such as the one located on the roof of this research laboratory.
Objectives
This module has three objectives.
These are first, to review the basics of photovoltaic systems;
second, to illustrate key considerations for photovoltaic project analysis; and
third, to introduce the IST Lab Photovoltaic Project Model.
This module has three objectives.
These are first, to review the basics of photovoltaic systems;
second, to illustrate key considerations for photovoltaic project analysis; and
third, to introduce the IST Lab Photovoltaic Project Model.
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Solar photovoltaics can and should play an important role within a sustainable energy system of the future.
This activity explores factors which affect the power output of a solar panel, and may lead to an investigation of quantitative aspects of some factors.
Each group will need
Solar panel unit
Small motor unit
Desk lamp (40 or 60 W tungsten lamp)
Digital multimeter (or voltmeter)
Plug-plug 4 mm leads (red), 2
Plug-plug 4 mm leads (black), 2
Metre rule
Piece of cardboard
Translucent sheets (e.g. tracing paper) cut a suitable size to cover the solar panel
Coloured filters
Clamp stand
1 A solar power system for a house is not always going to give the same power
output. It will depend on the time of day, the season, the weather, and so on.
In this activity, students use a range of investigative skills, including the identification of different kinds of variable, the tabulation of data and drawing different kinds of graphs and charts.
This can be done in small groups as a qualitative activity to get a feel for the factors that affect the output of a solar panel, in which case the activity may only take up part of a lesson.
2 Students should find that the maximum output is given with a high light intensity and the biggest surface area, and with no tilt in relation to the light source. The translucent sheet and coloured filters reduce the power output.
3 Student could go on to a quantitative investigation of particular factors, done in pairs and taking longer. Different groups could each look at a different factor, and then report back to the whole class. Possible relationships to investigate:
output. It will depend on the time of day, the season, the weather, and so on.
In this activity, students use a range of investigative skills, including the identification of different kinds of variable, the tabulation of data and drawing different kinds of graphs and charts.
This can be done in small groups as a qualitative activity to get a feel for the factors that affect the output of a solar panel, in which case the activity may only take up part of a lesson.
2 Students should find that the maximum output is given with a high light intensity and the biggest surface area, and with no tilt in relation to the light source. The translucent sheet and coloured filters reduce the power output.
3 Student could go on to a quantitative investigation of particular factors, done in pairs and taking longer. Different groups could each look at a different factor, and then report back to the whole class. Possible relationships to investigate:
- how does the distance of the lamp affect the voltage across the panel? A suitable range of distances is from 10 to 25 cm (if using just the motor); with the voltmeter, a suitable range of distances would be from 10 to 50 cm.
- How does the area of the panel exposed affect the output voltage?
- How do different filters affect the output voltage? for example: glass, clear plastic sheet, white paper
4 Ask students to explain how their results relate to real conditions with the Sun. You could have students take their panel outside and look at the effect of tilting it, of partially covering it or of using different kinds of filters.
Understand the basic types of PV systems, their major subsystems and components, and the electrical and mechanical BOS components required.
Through this training, students will learn new things.
