Assessment of cooling photovoltaic-wind hybrid power controller system for AC load application in tropical climate condition

Abstract

This research looks at the assessment of cooling photovoltaic (PV)-wind hybrid power controller system for alternating current (AC) load application in tropical climate condition. It has four objectives in order to fulfill the requirement of this research. Firstly, the study of the potential PV and wind power generation in Perlis has been discussed. The data of solar radiation and wind speed were measured at the Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy (CERE), University Malaysia Perlis in Perlis, Malaysia. The average of solar radiation for the past three years (2011 to 2013) is higher than 3 kWh/m2 which indicates that Perlis is suitable for solar power technology application. Secondly, a new model based on wind direction data in order to estimate the wind speed has been proposed. The development of the theory of circular-linear functional relationship model via circular-linear regression model proposed by Mardia (1976) when both variables are subject to errors are presented. The model has fitted the data quite well by assuming that both variables of the unreplicated circular-linear functional relationship model are subject to errors. This indicates that the proposed method is acceptable and applicable. Third, the temperature of PV module increases when it absorbs solar radiation, causing the decrement of efficiency. Therefore, the proposed topology of PV automatic cooling system is designed, constructed and experimentally researched within this study in order to overcome this challenge. To reduce the PV module surface temperature, direct current (DC) cooling system was designed using three methods which are DC brushless fan, DC water pump and DC hybrid brushless fan with DC water pump. They will make the air movement and water flow circulation at the back side and front side of PV module, respectively. Four temperature sensors were installed on the PV module to detect its surface temperature.