Exploiting the Potentials of Photovoltaic Cells in the Extension of Lifetime of a 2.5 kVA Power Inverter for Stable Power Supply in a Developing Nation

Abstract: The perennial yearn of developing countries for stable electricity supply and individual efforts to overcome this challenge are well noted situations. This study basically presents an alternative power generating system (power inverter with Photovoltaic cells backup) that provides electricity to household appliances during failure from national grid. This continuity of supply is achieved by converting direct current (D.C) from rechargeable batteries to alternating current (A.C) at a given frequency and supplying it to the load unit automatically without any noticeable interruption. The system switches over to the mains supply once the public power is restored and back to the inverter during power outage. For improved efficiency and extended lifetime, the system consists of two complementary charging sources that charge the rechargeable batteries. The two charging sources are solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and a rectifier circuit. Detailed design calculations and considerations are shown in the work. Switches are incorporated in the system to switch the source of charging between the charging sources and to establish connection between the load and either the mains or the batteries. The different tests and analysis performed on the system show that the PV cells provide significant improvement on the battery charge (lifetime) of the inverter unlike when the system’s only charging source is from the mains. Keywords: Photovoltaic backup, complementary output, inversion, low battery trip, peak inverse voltage. Title: Exploiting the Potentials of Photovoltaic Cells in the Extension of Lifetime of a 2.5 kVA Power Inverter for Stable Power Supply in a Developing Nation Author: Olanrewaju L. Kadir, Okechi Onuoha, Nnaemeka C. Onuekwusi, Nwanyinnaya Nwogu, Uzoigwe U. Victor, Albert C. Agulanna International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1226 (online), ISSN 2348-1218 (print) Research Publish Journals

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