| This thesis presents and discusses the modelling, analysis, monitoring and performance evaluation of PV system. The two installed PV generator system is operating in extreme and severe weather conditions. The local area is characterized by high level of irradiation, high humidity variations, very high ambient temperature and frequent dust storms. Each PV panel is of 150 W rating feeds a variable resistive load separately and simultaneously.;A generalized Photovoltaic (PV) array model is developed in LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) based on equivalent electric circuit model. Various approaches to PV system modelling are investigated and various studies are conducted using the developed models. These included studies to evaluate the electrical performance of the module under different environmental and operating conditions.;In LabVIEW, the measurement is taken through a conditioning amplifier and NI data acquisition equipment. The constructed LabVIEW engine displays environmental parameters and the associated electrical variables (voltage, current and power) on dedicated graph windows continuously in a real time manner with the desired frequency of measurement and storage rate. The I-V and PV characteristics are taken for any chosen panel, displayed and stored accurately. LabVIEW allows appending any characteristics for the sake of comparison, investigation and research purposes.;The monitoring results are very satisfactory. The online data display in multi-scale window frame is very informative. The online efficiency evaluation is very useful for the system operation and analysis. Rs and Rp model as well as the improved model results are shown satisfactory with dust index. The obtained results is validated against simulation to show very good degree of accuracy. The measurement system has shown clearly the impact of dust, the impact of high temperature and the impact of the irradiation changes on the PV panel efficiency. The developed system is found very supportive for research and educational purposes. |
