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Design and Development of a Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic Training Infrastructure

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Conference

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

New Orleans, Louisiana

Publication Date

June 26, 2016

Start Date

June 26, 2016

End Date

June 29, 2016

ISBN

978-0-692-68565-5

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Subjects in Renewable Energy and Sustainability in ET

Tagged Division

Engineering Technology

Page Count

14

DOI

10.18260/p.26659

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/26659

Download Count

835

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Paper Authors

biography

Faruk Yildiz Sam Houston State University

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Faruk Yildiz is currently an Associate Professor of
Engineering Technology at Sam Houston State University.
His primary teaching areas are in Electronics,
Computer Aided Design (CAD), and Alternative Energy Systems. Research interests include: low power energy
harvesting systems, renewable energy technologies
and education.

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biography

Min Jae Suh Sam Houston State University

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Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Technology at Sam Houston State University.
Ph.D. from Virginia Tech
M.S. from Stanford University
B.S. from Yeungnam University in South Korea

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biography

Keith L. Coogler Sam Houston State University

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Dr. Keith L. Coogler is an instructor of engineering technology at Sam Houston State University. He received a BS in Design & Development and holds a MA in Industrial Education and Ed.D. in Higher Education from Texas A&M University – Commerce. His primary teaching area is Construction Management. Research interests include: automation, electronics, alternative energy, and “green” construction.

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Ulan Dakeev Texas A&M University, Kingsville

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Dr. Ulan Dakeev is an Assistant Professor in Industrial Technology Department in the College of Engineering, Texas A&M University - Kingsville. His areas of research include renewable energy (wind energy), quality in higher education, motivation, and engagement of students.

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Kenan Baltaci University of Wisconsin, Stout

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Kenan Baltaci is an Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin-Stout, in the Engineering
Technology Department. He received B.S. in electrical engineering degree from Istanbul Technical University
in Turkey. Following, a master’s degree and doctoral degree in industrial technology was granted
from University of Northern Iowa.

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Abstract

Renewable energy related course work are becoming an important part of the science, engineering, and technology curricula. Hands-on training of the renewable energy related coursework occupy major space in engineering technology related technical coursework. Renewable energy courses are the ones typically require hands-on laboratory experiments for the students unless the course is being taught in the business and education related programs. Laboratory experiments for the renewable energy related courses necessitate two major laboratory tools. First one is a good laboratory workbook pertaining what is being taught in the lectures and second one is the related laboratory equipment. There are variety of laboratory equipment available in the market for the instructors. The cost of the equipment vary between $2500 - $100,000 or more depending on what is expected from laboratory equipment. Some of the training/laboratory unit companies offer manuals/workbooks for their equipment for the schools. For those technical and engineering programs covering specific renewable energy curricula and lacking funding to purchase necessary lab equipment seek ways to build their own equipment and prepare related laboratory activities. This research describes design and development of the two renewable energy training equipment with activity manuals; a) Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic Training Unit (using micro and string inverters), b) Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic Training Unit with battery backup. Both units are completely designed and built in the design and production laboratories of an engineering technology program by faculty and students. Both units are utilized in lab sections of two renewable energy courses offered in the program. Both systems are utilized to cover; a) how a PV cell works, b) how the PV system itself operates, c) DC and AC electronics basics, d) electrical and mechanical integration, e) solar PV safety, f) micro vs. string inverters, g) charge controllers, h) type of batteries, i) monitoring and data acquisition systems, j) disconnects, k) AC and DC loads, l) converters, m) Series and parallel connections etc. All the research details and student involvement will be shared with the academia.

Yildiz, F., & Suh, M. J., & Coogler, K. L., & Dakeev, U., & Baltaci, K. (2016, June), Design and Development of a Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic Training Infrastructure Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26659

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