Objective
This project in the Amazonian jungle provides a demanding test of PV reliability as the equipment will be subject to hot and humid equatorial conditions. The use of a PV array as alternative to grid connection avoids the clearance of 600 000 m2 of rain forest necessary for connection to the grid. As alternative to diesel generators it eliminates pollution and fuelling visits and reduces the number of maintenance visits.
This project has consolidated the conviction, that photovoltaic technology is technically viable and is reliable for automatic operation even in tropical environment. Technical and economical improvements are possible.
The system, supplying power to the Kaw Mountain relay transmitter centre in French Guyana, is completely autonomous and consists of a 20 kWp array (PHOTOWATT), two 4610 Ah (at 100 h) batteries and a regulator. It is situated 30 km from the grid and 65 km from the nearest town.
Nr. of subsystems: 1
Power of subsystems: 20 kWp
Total power: 20 kWp
Backup: none
Number of modules: 21 x 24 = 504
Module description: PHOTOWATT, BPX 47-401, 40 Wp +/- 2 %. 12 V. (Normes francaise NF C 57-100; approved JRC, Ispra. Each module: 36 poly-cristalline cells (10 x 10 cm), between double glass. 1002 x 462 mm. Connection: 21 arrays of 6 parallel lines of 4 series connected modules 12 V (=54 V). Two by-pass diodes per module and blocking diodes between series chains.
Support: Total surface 233 m2. On fixed racks, 10 deg. tilt from horizontal, south facing. Passive theft protection. Max power tracker: none.
Charge controller : Charge kept between 30% and 100% by switching with gas-tight mercury relais. The 21 arrays are grouped in 4 groups of 5 parallel units and switched on or off according to charge, the 21st array is always connected for basic charge.
Protection: In case of overcharge: shut-off of generator. Manual re-insertion. In case of undercharge: shut-off of load. Automatic re-insertion.
Battery: Two parallel lead-acid batteries type OLDHAM, HZT 26 "S" with 23 elements. Batt. (V): 48
Capacity (Ah): 2 x 3510 Ah (at 10 h) equal to 4610 Ah = 443 kWh (at 100 h). 7 days autonomy.
Inverter: Only for occasional use for maintenance work, type LRCE.
Inv. in (V): 48 V
Inv. ou(V): 220 V
Inv. power(kW): 1 kW, efficiency: 82 % at full power, 42% at 10%.
Load description: Two FM relays, AEG-TELEFUNKEN, 24 V cc, 160 W each, through dc/dc converter. Two TV relays, THOMSON-LGT, 48 V cc, 1100 W each.
Monitoring: All relevant data, irradiance, temperatures, energies in and out, ecc. are measured each minute and the averages are recorded each hour on EEPROM cartridges, that contain datafor up to 4 months.
A tele survey of four essential values of the plant to the next manned station, 30 km west, is provided.
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Programme(s)
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Coordinator
78184 ST QUENTIN EN YVELINES CEDEX
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.