Solar Power at Malosky Staduimby Scott Norr, ECE Department
Photo Courtesy of Tom Ferguson
5.8 kW Array: 4 Rows of 7 Panels
Photo Courtesy of Tom Ferguson
Each Panel: 208 Watts, 29 Volts, 7.25 Amps
Photo Courtesy of Tom Ferguson
5 kW Sunny Boy InverterSolar Array produces Direct CurrentInverter chops the DC up and creates Alternating CurrentInverter synchronizes the AC with the building power system
Photo Courtesy of Tom Ferguson
Weather Station at Malosky
Weather Station Funded by:
Website In Development to Publish Datawww.d.umn.edu/solar
LIGHT EMITTING DIODEDiode Doped to Emit Photons as Electrons
Cross the Diode Junction
Physical DescriptionSilicon is doped(impurities added) to establish
Donors and AcceptorsDonors and Acceptors combine in Depletion
Region
LED: Electric Current Creates LightDiode Junction is Voltage Dependent
Reversible: Light Creates Electricity
Image Courtesy of Brandon Eberle, ECE Student Researcher
Future Work at Malosky
Concentrated PhotoVoltaics (CPV)A Manufacturer has developed a mirrored
plastic film with a very high incidence of optical reflectivity.
Cost is projected to be about 10% that of a Solar Panel
So, the surface area exposed to sunlight could be doubled or quadrupled for 10%
to 20% increase in cost
More Sun = More Electricity
Drawbacks:Concentrating Sunlight also means
Concentrating Heat (Infrared Radiation)Solar Panels are less efficient at higher
operating temperaturesPossible to “tune” the mirrored film to reflect less of the Infrared Wavelengths?
Research Questions:Are CPV systems suited to Northern Latitude
locations?How much concentration (2X, 4X or more?) is
the best fit for Duluth climate?What is the optimal concentraion, balanced
against the rise in temperature?What is the optimal spectral reflectivity of the
mirrored film?
3M/UMD/Minnesota Power Research GroupPursuing Federal and State Funding
to answer those questionsShould know in a few months