Off-grid renewable energy systems for residential pools

Author: Bilal Rashid

Rashid, Bilal, 2022 Off-grid renewable energy systems for residential pools, Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering

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Abstract

Due to the lack of availability of electrical power in the Adelaide region, it is essential to use renewable energy resources such as solar heat and wind kinetic energy to obtain electrical energy with minimum interruption and failure. Sunlight and kinetic energy obtained from wind are renewable energy resources in surplus amounts.

The project is related to designing and implementing an optimized, efficient, and robust power system using maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for solar modules and a pitch control system for wind turbine systems to obtain the maximum possible power. The solar module is used under variable load conditions despite the variations of supplied input of solar irradiance for the solar photovoltaic (PV) system and variable wind speed for the wind turbine power system. A complete and comprehensive comparative analysis shall be done to suggest and choose the most optimum, efficient, and robust power system for the required load demand.

The electrical load used for the analysis will be swimming pool equipment, including the water pump, a chlorinator that will chlorinate the water from bacteria, and an electric heater that will warm up the water on winter days. Depending upon these load requirements and demands, the two central power systems will be designed and simulated; one is based on Solar PV, and the second will be a wind turbine system. Via simulation-based testing and comprehensive critical comparative analysis, the best, optimized, effective, and efficient system will be recommended and chosen for the required loads' of electrical equipment of the swimming pool. The designed systems were analyzed in different seasons of Adelaide city at other times and hours of the day. The solar PV system was analyzed for twelve hours of the day for hot summer, hot winter, cold summer, and cold winter.

Moreover, the solar PV system was well analyzed at different times, like morning, noon, and evening in summer and winter. Similarly, the wind turbine system was analyzed for the summer and winter seasons with low and high-speed wind. The wind system was also simulated and studied during the morning, noon, and evening hours.

Keywords: Photovoltaic, Solar PV Systems, Renewable Resources, Maximum Power Point Tracking, Wind Turbine, Energy Management Systems, Renewable Energy.

Subject: Engineering thesis

Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2022
School: College of Science and Engineering
Supervisor: Dr Amin Mahmoudi