This paper describes the design and development stages to convert a conventional refrigerator to a solar powered one. The development of such a system was effected and the results of this work to provide a cost effective version are given.

The performances of a photovoltaic pumping system based on an induction motor are degraded once insolation varies far from the value called nominal, where the system was sized. To surmount this handicap, an improvement of these performances by the optimization of the motor efficiency is...

In most of the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods described currently in the literature, the optimal operation point of the photovoltaic (PV) systems is estimated by linear approximations. However these approximations can lead to less than optimal operating conditions and hence reduce...

The paper summarizes Japanese activities in the field of photovoltaic system R&D. Last year 1994 was just the 20th anniversary of the Sunshine Project, which started in July 1974. Although there have been a variety of R&D including stand-alone applications in the Project, the utility-connected,...

This paper is about predicting the average conventional energy conversion by a photovoltaic system in Malaysia. The calculation is based on average number of days in a month. Average hourly energy flows are estimated based on knowledge of array test parameters, monthly average of hourly ambient...

This paper proposes a method of maximum power point tracking using adaptive fuzzy logic control for grid-connected photovoltaic systems. The system is composed of a boost converter and a single-phase inverter connected to a utility grid. The maximum power point tracking control is based on...

We make a brief analysis of the evolution of photovoltaic systems, highlighting the present situation worldwide and in Brazil. We compare costs of energy generation associated to photovoltaic and to coal-fired power plants. Coal-fired generation represents the eligible choice for the Brazilian...

As of today, the considerable influence of select environmental variables, especially irradiance intensity, must still be accounted for whenever discussing the performance of a solar system. Therefore, an extensive, dependable modeling method is required in investigating the most suitable...

This paper presents modeling approaches for step-up grid-connected photovoltaic systems intended to provide analytical tools for control design. The first approach is based on a voltage source representation of the bulk capacitor interacting with the grid-connected inverter, which is a common...

Energy analysis, environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA) and economic appraisals have been utilised to study the performance of a domestic building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system on a ‘whole systems’ basis. Energy analysis determined that the system paid back its embodied energy in...