Development and construction of a concentrated photovoltaic pilot plant with subsequent measurement and analysis of the data

Abstract

The major purpose of this thesis was to construct and measure the performance of a concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) pilot plant. A stand-alone photovoltaic system was designed. A solar survey was applied for several locations. Programs were created to calculate the angles of incidence and to evaluate the cosine losses for a surface with a tracking system about a N-S axis (horizontal and with different slope angles) located in Vienna. The calculated data were gathered and compared with the help of diagrams for the average day for each month of the year. The wind loads on the parabolic trough were determined for the selected location for a horizontal and a 30° slope angle system. A data acquisition system was planned to measure the voltage and the electrical power output of the prototype receiver(s), irradiance (global, diffuse, direct), and the coolant inlet and outlet temperatures of the CPV receiver(s). In conclusion, by utilizing a parabolic trough and a tracking system, about a horizontal N-S axis, a proper focal line on the CPV receiver was achieved. The results revealed that the electrical efficiency of the pilot plant based on the global irradiance, on a horizontal surface, under the best conditions was about 8,5 %. The end losses can be avoided, when operating with only one 1365 mm long CPV receiver, while in the horizontal position. It was also concluded that the useful heat gain of the cooling water with the applied flow rate during the winter was negligible.