Performance assessment of monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panel types used in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria
Date
2017-01
Authors
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Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
The performance assessment of monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar panels was conducted in Owerri. The solar panels made in Germany were produced by Flames Company and rated 100W. Both solar panels were subjected to the same weather conditions. The solar panels were placed side by side on the roof top and the outdoor testing was carried out in both the raining and dry season for 28days. Each of the solar panel was connected to 12V, 15A charge controller and to a load of 40Ohms. The open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current (ISC), load voltage (VL) and load current IL were measured using a digital multimeter. The maximum power (PM) and load power (PL) were calculated from the VOC, ISC, VL and IL. The results indicated that VOC for monocrystalline silicon solar panel was high during the early and late hours of the day while VOC for polycrystalline silicon solar panel increased as the insolation increases for both season. The monocrystalline silicon solar panel produced more current than the polycrystalline silicon solar panel. It was observed that both panels had high performance between 10am and 3pm of the day in the rainy season. The polycrystalline silicon produced the highest maximum power output of 96.80W while the monocrystalline had a maximum power output of 94.24W. The solar panels had a low performance during the dry dusty harmattan season as low sunlight weather condition was observed. (maximum power of 52.06W for the monocrystalline silicon solar panel and 50.95W for the polycrystalline silicon solar panel). Cloudy weather conditions affected the solar panel performance as both the voltage and current dropped whenever it rained. The polycrystalline silicon solar panel also has a fairly constant voltage (between 16.06V to 17.98V) while voltage for the monocrystalline silicon fluctuates (between 15.01V to 17.99V). The study showed that the polycrystalline silicon solar panel is widely used and cheaper even when the users may not have known the advantage of higher power output than the monocrystalline silicon panel.
Description
This thesis is for the award of the Degree of Master of Science (MSc.) in Physics (Solar Energy Option)
Keywords
Monocystalline, polycrystalline, voltage, current, solar panels, power output, Department of Physics
Citation
Onuoha, E. (2017). Performance Assessment of monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panel types used in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria [Unpublished Master's Thesis]. Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria