UNDERGRADUATE ANALYSIS OF TWO DIFFERENT PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE TYPES : A COMPARISON COMPLETED FOR AN INDUSTRIAL AFFILIATE

摘要

Rowan University is committed to giving its undergraduate students an early experience in real world situations. Through the participation of Industrial affiliates Rowan University is able to get their undergraduate students involved in the innovation of cutting edge renewable energy research. During the 2007-2008 academic year Kaneka Corporation of Osaka Japan, sponsored the installation of a Photovoltaic (PV) system located at the newly created South Jersey Technical Park. This 1kW system utilizes Kaneka's new amorphous-silicon photovoltaic modules, which are purported to being more efficient in higher temperatures. A comparison of these amorphous modules and an existing system of differing module types has been completed. This reference system being a 13.3kW array of single-crystalline modules located on the same roof, tilted at a comparable angle. Working in an engineering clinic environment modeled on the medical school model, students were to determine (if existent) the efficiency gains of the new amorphous type modules in contrast to the mono-crystalline modules on the same roof.