Design And Construction Of A Smart Solar Powered True Sine Wave Inverters, Incorporating Gsm Module

ABSTRACT

The power electronics device which converts DC power to AC at required output voltage and frequency level with the use of appropriate transformer, switching and control circuits is known as Inverters.

Inverters are used for many applications, as in situations where low voltage DC sources such as batteries, solar panels or fuel cells must be converted so that devices can run off of the AC power.

The project/report focuses on the design & construction of a true sine wave inverters , incorporating Solar panels system and a GSM  for remote ON & OFF switching. The essence is to bring in SMARTNESS and be able to save money on energy usage.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Approval Page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE

• Introduction

1.1      background of the study

1.2      problem statement

1.3      aim and Objective of the project

1.4      purpose of the project

1.5     significance of the project

1.6      limitation of the project

1.7      application of the project

1.8      project organisation

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Literature review

2.1      Historical background of photovotaic cell

2.2     Theoretical review of solar cell

2.3      Review of solar cell efficiency

2.4      Review of solar cell materials

2.5      Review of early inverters

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     Construction

3.1      Basic of the system

3.2     block diagram of the system

3.3     Description of system unit

3.4     system circuit using ic 4093

3.5      Circuit operation

3.6     Description of components used

3.7      GSM module description

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT ANALYSIS

4.0      Construction Procedure and Testing

4.1      Casing and Packaging

4.2      Assembling of Sections

4.3      Testing of System Operation

4.4     Cost Analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0      Conclusion

5.1      Recommendation

• References

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1                                           BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Solar panels produce direct electricity with the help of electrons that are moving from negative to positive direction. Most of the appliances that we use at home work on alternative current. This AC is created by the constant back and forth of the electrons from negative to positive. In AC electricity the voltage can be adjusted according to the use of the appliance.  As solar panels only produce Direct current the solar inverter is used to convert the DC to AC [1].

An inverter produces square waves or a sine wave which can be used for running lights, televisions, lights, motors etc. However these inverters also produce harmonic distortion. Expensive inverters make use of lots of steps to produce a sine wave and thus are found in residential solar inverters. Basically inverters should be a large one so that it supplies enough power to all the necessary appliances [2].

Many people using solar inverters these days which prove that its necessity has been increased in the current years. A Solar inverter is similar to a normal electric inverter but uses the energy of the Sun, that is, Solar energy. A solar inverter helps in converting the direct current into alternate current with the help of solar power. Direct power is that power which runs in one direction inside the circuit and helps in supplying current when there is no electricity. Direct currents are used for small appliance like mobile e phones, MP3 players, IPod etc. where there is power stored in the form of battery. In case of alternative current it is the power that runs back and forth inside the circuit. The alternate power is generally used for house hold appliances. A solar inverter helps devices that run on DC power to run in AC power so that the user makes use of the AC power. If you are thinking why to use solar inverter instead of the normal electric one then it is because the solar one makes use of the solar energy which is available in abundant from the Sun and is clean and pollution free [3].

Solar inverters are also called as photovoltaic solar inverters. These devices can help you save lot of money.  The small-scale grid  one have just two components i.e. the panels and inverter while  the off grid systems are complicated and consists of batteries which allows users to use appliances during the night when there is no Sunlight available.  The solar panel and the batteries that are placed on rooftops attract Sun rays and then convert the Sunlight into electricity. The batteries too grab the extra electricity so that it can then be used to run appliances at night [3][4].

This work focuses on building a solar based a true sine wave inverter which incorporate GSM module and LCD for remote ON & OFF switching of the inverter.

1.2                                STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Solar power inverter application and installation is every house occupant desire nowadays because of its efficiency and reliability in that it solve the problem of national power grid failure and save us from higher energy billing system. However, it was discovered that sometimes the user of power solar inverter as their source of their power supply often times forget to shutdown their system when everyone is out of the house which leads to wasting of electric energy. This device came to solve this problem, with this device the owner of the house can use their GSM to monitor the state of their solar inverter most especially when they forgot to switch it OFF they can use this device to ON or OFF the inverter from any distance provided there is GSM network.

1.3                                   AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

The main aim of the study is to build a wireless controlling device for a solar inverter which has the capacity of controlling the inverter from a distance. At the end of the work, student involved shall be able to:

1. Understand how to build the device
2. Understand how to interface LCD, and GSM module with Arduino

1.4                                              PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

The purpose of this work is to bring in SMARTNESS into an inverter system that will be able to save energy usage.

1.5                                         SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

With this device, the user has the ability to control the solar inverter from any distance without making physical contact with the control switch of the device just by sending SMS to the module using GSM.

• LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT

1. Initially you need to shell out a lot of money for buying or designing this device
2. The solar inverter will work effectively and produce direct current only when the Sunlight is strong.

• There must be GSM network for the device to operate.

1. The user is familiar with the text messaging program on their cell phone.

1.7                                  APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

Solar Inverters find diverse uses and applications in daily life, due to their function of converting DC to AC. It can be used in the following places [6][7]:

1. Homes
2. Offices
3. Industries
4. Worship places, etc.

1.8                                        ORGANISATION OF THE PROJECT

This work is organized in such a way that every reader of this work will understand how solar power inverter is been made. Starting from the chapter one to chapter five focused fully on the topic at hand.

Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to this study. In this chapter, the background, problem statement, significance, aim and objective, purpose, limitation and problem of solar power inverter were discussed.

Chapter two is on literature review of the study. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.

Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.

Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.

Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.

REFERENCES

[1]       The Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms, Seventh Edition, IEEE Press, 2000,ISBN 0-7381-2601-2, page 588

[2].     James, Hahn. “Modifi ed Sine-Wave Inverter Enhanced”. Power Electronics.

[3].     Barnes, Malcolm (2003). Practical variable speed drives and power electronics. Oxford: Newnes. p. 97. ISBN 0080473911.

[4].     Rodriguez, Jose; et al. (August 2002). “Multilevel Inverters: A Survey of Topologies, Controls, and Applications”. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics (IEEE) 49 (4): 724–738.

[5].     Owen, Edward L. (January–February 1996). “Origins of the Inverter”. IEEE Industry Applications Magazine: History Department (IEEE) 2 (1): 64–66.

[6].     Dr. Ulrich Nicolai, Dr. Tobias Reimann, Prof. Jürgen Petzoldt, Josef Lutz: Application Manual IGBT and MOSFET Power Modules, 1. Edition, ISLE Verlag, 1998, ISBN 3-932633-24-5.

[7]       https://www.energysage.com/solar/101/microinverters-power-optimizers-advantages-disadvantages/

[8]       http://www.doityourself.com/stry/troubleshooting-common-problems-with-a-solar-inverter.

[9]       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_inverter.