Solar

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is a critical low-carbon solution, but its performance is severely compromised by shading. This study addresses the persistent problem of partial shading, which causes disproportionate power losses and creates thermal stress risks like hot spots. This research aims to quantify the effect of shading on PV panel voltage, current, and power output under controlled laboratory conditions. The methodology employed an experimental approach using an SES TPS- 3720 Solar Energy Trainer. Experiments measured performance under 0% (baseline), 50% (partial), and 100% (full) shading. The study also evaluated the impact of shading material optical properties by testing opaque (wood), semi-opaque (paper), and translucent (plastic film) materials. Measurements were recorded across five irradiance levels using both LED lamp and DC motor loads.Key findings demonstrate a highly non-linear performance degradation. Partial shading covering 50% of the panel area resulted in a 65-70% power loss, far exceeding a proportional reduction.Full shading with opaque (wood) or semi-opaque (paper) materials caused a 100% power loss, eliminating all usable current. Translucent plastic film caused the least degradation (approx. 23% power loss). The results confirm that a material's optical transmittance, not its physical density, is the dominant factor determining shading severity. These findings validate established photovoltaic theory and highlight the critical importance of shadow avoidance in system design. The study reinforces the necessity of mitigation strategies such as bypass diodes and module-level power electronics (MLPE) in shade-prone installations.

This project focuses on the design and building of a solar inverter with a 3.5KVA capacity. Solar inverters convert the variable direct current (DV) output of a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel into utility-frequency alternating current (AC), ready for connection to a home's electrical system. It is essential to solar systems since it permits the use of common AC-powered devices. Solar panels in solar inverters produce direct electricity by moving electrons from a negative to a positive direction. Most home appliances run on alternating current. This AC continuously fluctuates between negative and positive elections. You can adjust the voltage in the AC power according to the equipment's intended use. Solar inverters convert DC to AC because solar panels can only provide direct current.We created a 3.5KVA electrical inverter for this project. Two 22Ah wet cell batteries, a 220V/24-0-24V center-tapped inverter, an MPPT charge controller, and six 300W solar panels make up the architecture of the inverting circuitry assembly. The design provided power for a television, refrigerator (200 watts), air conditioner (1120 watts), and other devices totaling 2465 watts. The system operated at peak efficiency for almost 12 hours while under full load.

The project involved detailed load analysis, component selection, and system configuration. The final design ensures a stable power supply with provisions for future scalability. This work demonstrates the practical application of electrical/electronic engineering principles in solvingreal-world energy challenges and contributes toward the goal of sustainable development. In this project, the design of a 300kW stand-alone power system for the faculty of Engineering, implementation of a 10kW inverter/battery system for the Dean’s office, LT1, LT2, LT3, LT4 and the faculty board room was carried out.

The project involved detailed load analysis, component selection, and system configuration. The final design ensures a stable power supply with provisions for future scalability. This work demonstrates the practical application of electrical/electronic engineering principles in solving
real-world energy challenges and contributes toward the goal of sustainable development. In this project, the design of a 300kW stand-alone power system for the faculty of Engineering, implementation of a 10kW inverter/battery system for the Dean’s office, LT1, LT2, LT3, LT4 and the faculty board room was carried out.