Microcontroller Based Photovoltaic Systems Designing for Rural Homes and Villages

Abstract

Solar-based electricity for our houses is essential nowadays as the monthly power bills are escalating regularly. Also, the whole world is now facing the challenge „global warming‟. By using eco friendly and green technologies, we would help reduce global warming and assist climate change mitigation. Integrated LED modules and other DC operated Electrical equipment conserve energy as they are energy-efficient, possess long-life and require less maintenance. PV powered system is the best appropriate one for providing supply to these devices. In this paper PV powered system has been designed, analysed and tested in dual battery incorporated system, which will drastically improve the efficiency and durability of the system. Provision of electricity to rural areas is considered uneconomical by many power generation companies, because of the low consumption and poor load factors. Provision of electricity to isolated communities [rural areas] having lot of difficulties. Rising costs and un-sustainability of conventional energy sources, as well as, the need for environmentally friendly energy supplies, are considered to be the main factors that have stimulated interest into designing a product for practical applications of renewable energy sources. In these days PV powered system generally comes with single battery and in this paper one more battery and its interface is incorporated. Since, two batteries are placed in between the PV panel and loads, these batteries to be properly swapped for charging and discharging as well. PV powered system with dual battery is designed and tested right from manual method, semi automatic method and fully automated method. Fully automated method is accomplished by incorporating a microcontroller in between these dual batteries or dual battery stacks. The entire system will considerably improve the performance and efficiency as well. This paper describes the designing, constructing and testing of a microcontroller based dual battery pack or dual stack of batteries for any photovoltaic power [PV powered] applications. Here we describe a microcontroller based PV systems designing in detail for the benefits of the people existing in remote villages where establishing power grid is a challenging and expensive.