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curran-ms-thesis.pdf (3.99 MB)

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Lifetime Performance Modeling of Commercial Photovoltaic Power Plants

Curran, Alan J
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1564763825566542

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Sciences (Engineering), Case Western Reserve University, Materials Science and Engineering.
In this work, we introduce a solar power plant performance analysis tool, with an emphasis on the evaluation commercial systems. This pipeline tool is designed for ease of use and fast, reproducible results from a variety of different evaluation techniques that can be run on local computers or with distributed processing. A data set of 98 commercial inverters that have been operating for between 3.5 and 6 years is used as a demonstration of the pipeline features and as a comparison between different analysis methods. Several different types of data filters are applied, along with a clearsky detection algorithm using weather data modeled from satellite images. Comparisons between sensor and satellite based irradiance data show a tendency for the satellite data to under-predict the ground sensor irradiance by 1-2%. Comparing the sensor and satellite data deviations over time shows evidence of sensor drifting in 3 of the 8 sites analyzed. PV performance is modeled as both linear and non-linear performance loss rates (PLR), using regression models and performance ratios to correct the power for weatherconditions. PLR results show data driven models with less data filtering produce more consistent results between different PLR evaluation methods and magnitudes that are reasonable for modern systems, around 0.5-0.7%/year power loss. Non-linear PLR modeling of the oldest (6 years) inverters in the data set shows trends of initial power loss within the first few months of operation, followed by a stable period with little to no loss, ending with higher loss at the end of the time series.
Roger French, Prof. (Advisor)
Mark De Guire, Prof. (Committee Member)
Laura Bruckman, Prof. (Committee Member)
Jen Braid, Dr. (Committee Member)
124 p.
Energy; Engineering; Materials Science
Photovoltaics; Reliability; Degradation; Data Science; Inverter; Solar; Renewable

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Curran, A. J. (2019). Lifetime Performance Modeling of Commercial Photovoltaic Power Plants [Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1564763825566542

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Curran, Alan. Lifetime Performance Modeling of Commercial Photovoltaic Power Plants. 2019. Case Western Reserve University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1564763825566542.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Curran, Alan. "Lifetime Performance Modeling of Commercial Photovoltaic Power Plants." Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1564763825566542

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1564763825566542
410
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.