University of Nigeria, Nsukka has a digital library that accommodates 128 computers for student training, research and browsing. This facility becomes impossible to run due to the inability of the public utility to provide steady, reliable and efficient power. The available generator was not effective due to lack of diesel to run it. From experience with the performance of the existing generating sets as regards emissions and operating costs due to high cost of maintenance and diesel, a hybrid system (Diesel-Solar PV) was proposed. This paper describes the design and simulation of Diesel-Solar PV hybrid system with reliable control system that can be used to control and supervise the operations of PV - Diesel hybrid power generation system for digital library. The control system coordinates when power should be generated by renewable energy (PV panels) and when it should be generated by diesel generator and is intended to maximize the use of renewable system while limiting the use of diesel generator. Diesel generator is allocated only when the demand cannot be met by the renewable energy source including battery bank. The proposed system would meet around 63% of the average annual digital library electrical load and results in 37% reduction on diesel use and CO2 emissions compared to the diesel only option. From the analyses, the solar PV-diesel system has less total net present cost and less emission as a result of less fuel consumption of the diesel generator when compared to the diesel only system.
Digital Library Renewable Energy Component Sizing Hybrid System System Design Diesel Generator Energy Simulation
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | September 1, 2013 |
Published in Issue | Year 2013 Volume: 3 Issue: 3 |