EL230 — Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems
EL 230 - Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems EL 230 - Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems This course will provide an overview of fundamental concepts necessary to work with Photovoltaic (PV) systems, including: the photoelectric effect, pn junction, solar cell design and manufacturing, history of solar power; solar radiation, site analysis; grid-direct PV system components (PV modules, inverters, balance of system components), PV module criteria, PV systems safety; system design and sizing for grid-direct systems; NEC for photovoltaic applications, wire sizing, over-current protection, grounding; mounting solutions, thermal effects, wind load; commissioning and maintenance; economic analysis. Experiments emphasize: the photoelectric effect; performance characteristics of solar modules based on different technologies; irradiance, temperature, and angular position response of PV modules; shading analysis and mounting determination; series and parallel PV circuits and their characteristics; proper usage of inverters in the PV systems; comparison of pure sine inverters and modified square wave inverters. Course
Prerequisites: EL154, EL155, EL158, EL159