Department of Physics

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Browsing Department of Physics by Subject "621.312440968257"

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    Analysis of the peak power of a photovoltaic array system under outdoor conditions at Vuwani Region of Limpopo Province
    (2014-01-10) Nekhubvi, Vhutshilo 1st Mountaineer; Sankaran, V.
    An attempt has been made to test the performance of a solar array under the outdoor condition. Experimental investigations have been made to find its suitability for the rural Limpopo for the small scale electricity generation. This research is also geared towards the testing of validity of the data provided by the manufacture as the commercially available PV modules are rated at standard testing conditions (STC). A 450W ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) system has been designed and installed at the Vuwani Science Resource Centre in Vuwani region, Limpopo Province, South Africa which has geographical coordinates: 23°07'51"S , 30°04' 28"E. It is well known that the performance of PV system is dependent on system configuration and weather conditions. The instruments and data acquisition packages have been installed to record some of the main parameters such as peak power and air temperature. The estimated data of solar radiation are used in the present work. The photovoltaic array was connected to the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) charge controller to record daily peak power value produced by the photovoltaic array system. In addition to this, for the testing purposes the DS I-V curve tracer was used to take the electrical current and voltage (I-V) curves of the photovoltaic array installed for normal mode as well as the disturbed mode .The peak power data of the PV system over a period of ten months of operation is recorded, analyzed and the results obtained are discussed. It is noted that the PV system designed and installed is suitable for the chosen location.
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    Comparative Assessment of Grid-Tied and Isolated PV/Hybrid Energy System for Grid-Connected Facilities: Case of Masia Development Centre and Vuwani Science Centre Energy Systems
    (2025-09-05) Muronga, Shandukani; Tinawro, D.; Mulaudzi, T. S.
    The study underscores the significance of a sustainable energy system for national progress, particularly highlighting the increasing adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) in South Africa. Solar PV integration into the current power generation systems offers financial and ecological benefits, but determining the optimal configuration, especially in areas with an existing utility grid, is challenging. A walk-through energy audit was conducted at the Masia Community Development Centre and the Vuwani Science Centre to establish accurate energy demand profiles. Using the Hybrid Optimisation Model for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER), the study analysed load characteristics for two sites: the Masia Community Development Centre and the Vuwani Science Centre. Results show that grid-connected (GC) systems outperform off-grid (OG) systems in technical and economic terms, as evidenced by their lower net present cost (NPC) and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) values, alongside higher power output. However, GC systems’ reliance on grid electricity, often derived from non-renewable sources, increases greenhouse gas emissions. Among the evaluated configurations, the Photovoltaic-Grid-Converter (PV/Grid/Conv) architecture emerged as the most cost-effective, delivering low NPC, LCOE, and operating costs of R1,852,811.00, R1.63, and R20,878.56, respectively, for Masia, and R2,969,068.00, R1.07, and R83,039.74 for Vuwani. When scaled to Masia’s total facility demand, values reached R15,768,780.00 NPC, R1.90 LCOE, and R365,062.00 operating costs. Despite its efficiency, the PV/Grid/Conv system struggles with nighttime supply. It is vulnerable to load shedding, suggesting the advantage of incorporating PV/Battery/Grid/Converter (PV/Batt/Grid/Conv) systems for enhanced reliability in critical applications. The off-grid (OG) systems remain vital for remote locations where grid extension is impractical, enabling sustainable electrification, reduced fossil fuel dependence, and greater energy independence. This analysis offers valuable guidance for energy planners and system designers, balancing economic performance, environmental impact, and reliability in PV system deployment.
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    Performance analysis of small stand alone photovoltaic system under outdoor conditions in the Vuwani Region of the Limpopo Province
    (2014-01-10) Ravhengani, Tshifhiwa Solomon; Sankaran
    Public awareness of the need to reduce global warming and the drastic increase in crude oil prices have encouraged many countries around the world to adopt new energy-policies that promote renewable energy applications to meet energy demands and to protect the environment. The solar electricity is presently a rapidly growing renewable energy form. The advantage of this type of energy is that it is renewable and environmental friendly. These advantages of using solar electricity over other energy forms still put it on top, for example, no rapid depletion and do not contribute towards growing global warming. In the current study the outdoor performance of the photovoltaic module was monitored for a period of one year. An attempt has been made to understand the peak power and the peak voltage output of the module understudy at the solar research station at Vuwani Science Resource Centre under University of Venda. This was done to assess the design of the stand alone solar photovoltaics system on the rural area of Limpopo, South Africa. Currently the design and use of the PV stand alone photovoltaic energy system is the solution to the rural remote area where there is no national grid line. The outdoor measurements of the peak power was performed to understand the energy output of the module under realistic condition and to make sure that it is possible to design and use this type of photovoltaic systems in this area. Solar radiation data was estimated using a linear Angstrom model. The data computed were used to understand the performance of the PV module from its peak power and peak voltage. The value of these parameters was measured using the Maximum Power Point charge controller. The results obtained are discussed in details. It was found that the peak power monitored using the Maximum Power Point charge controller is nearly corresponding to the manufacturer listed data.