The Significance of Solar Power Technology Development,
Technology Studies, and Engineering in Armenia
Economies of advanced industrial countries inextricably rely on their universities and industries, which excel in advanced studies in engineering and science. Furthermore, technology development and innovation has a direct connection to the gross national product of each country and defines the roadmap to prosperity of its citizens. In order to succeed, Armenia must strive to prepare its industry and universities to meet the challenges and changing dynamics of advanced technology developments.
Educational leaders of the country, including the government and industry, must therefore question whether today’s technologists are sufficiently advanced to drive the development of technology expertise.
In order for Armenia to meet its future economic challenges, the government and higher learning institutions across the country must support the establishment of advanced engineering and sciences education as well as research and development foundations that experiment with new ideas that could lead to novel technology and product development.
To succeed, the government, industry, and universities must jointly develop and adopt a novel advanced educational model that could meet the challenges of Armenia’s technology development needs.
By fusing academic excellence with cooperative education and the involvement of industry, Armenia could develop a unique higher technology and sciences educational culture that makes technological innovation more likely in its university laboratories and classrooms, giving every student the opportunity to realize his or her full potential.
One such example involves the government of Armenia, which could promote the development of solar and alternative energy technology education in its military corps of engineers. Such a program, in addition to deploying Armenia’s forces in a productive manner, could lay the foundation for training future technologists who could serve the country’s industries in the future. Furthermore, by training specialists in the field of renewable and solar power technologies, the military corps could also be instrumental in the installation and deployment of large scale solar power generation systems, which in addition to benefiting the military and the government, could also benefit the public at large.
Such a plan, in addition to significantly reducing the cost of green energy deployment, could also contribute to the education of Armenia’s military service personnel. With this measure, the government of Armenia could effectively train and use its enlisted personnel to achieve a purposeful national goal.
Undoubtedly, with its naturally endowed solar energy, Armenia could lead the way in harvesting and making use of its most significant natural resource, the Sun!
Dr. Peter Gevorkian Ph.D. P.E.
CEO/President
Vector Delta Design Group, Inc.
September 2016 AUA Symposium Presentation Content
26-28 September 2016
2016 AUA Workshop on Rooftop & Building-Integrated Solar Photovoltic Power Generation
Introduction:
The following is September 2016 AUA symposium presentation content. In view of the majority of native attendants, the presentation as per directive of AUA has been specifically arranged to emphasize residential and building integrated systems, however to lesser extent, it will also cover grid connected industrial and large scale solar power generation.
In view of the fact that Armenia is in introductory stages of solar power generation deployment, the presentation will be principally tailored for non-technical audience. Roster of contents outlined below are tentative and could be revised by AUA if so needed.
Overview of Symposium Presentation
- Overview of energy systems
- Universal laws of energy
- Entropy and energy conservation
- Types of energy systems
- Energy conservation
- Introduction to atomic physics
- Atomic structures
- Brief overview Energy spectrum
- Photovoltaic effect and principles of application in semi-conductor technology
- Einstein theorem of light/particle effect
- Overview of semiconductors and charge transfer mechanism
- Solar power cell structures
- Solar Photovoltaic technologies and manufacturing
- Mono silicon, polysilicon, film technologies
- Solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing methods
- Solar power system components and conversion equipment
- DC to AC power conversion principles
- Basic solar power system configurations
- Solar strings, solar arrays
- Combiner boxes
- Inverters, single and three phase systems, isolated and non-isolated system power output
- Overview of energy production monitoring system
- Solar power systems with DC energy storage
- Solar photovoltaic power generation and environmental and system parameters affecting energy production
- Solar irradiance
- Air mass
- Humidity
- Shading
- PV tilt angle (latitude)
- Ambient temperature variations
- Dusting o Intrinsic loss of efficiency
- PV cell surface erosion
- Typical solar power system applications
- DC solar power applications and system configuration
- AC solar power system applications
- Power transmission and distribution
- Electrical AC power generation systems
- AC electrical power transmission and distribution
- AC power transformation losses o Overview of conventional and smart AC grid systems
- Non-grid connected solar power system applications
- Farming o Submersible water pumping
- Irrigation system water control management
- Mobile solar power generation systems in construction and military applications
- Telecommunications and remote repeater stations
- Grid connected photovoltaic power and principles of net metering systems
- Grid connection islanding concept
- Net metering
- Residential energy use control and monitoring system
- Electrical AC power use and tariffs
- Residential solar power systems
- Residential solar power system diagram
- Typical residential solar power system applications, roof mount, trellis and solar canopies
- Commercial solar power systems
- Building integrated solar power systems o Roof-mount systems
- Parking stall solar canopies
- Solar architectural monuments
- Solar power systems in architectural design- Building integrated solar systems (BIPV)
- Solar power system as integral component of the building structure
- Roof design methodology requirements, water-proofing and roof-mount equipment clearances
- Penetrating and non-penetrating solar PV module support systems
- Roof design configuration and parapets
- Electrical conduit chases and electrical room access and configuration
- Transparent solar photovoltaic modules and their use in window and solarium design
- Custom fabricated solar PV modules
- Architect/Solar power designer coordination requirements
- Solar power in multiple-residential applications
- Solar power use for common areas
- Dedicated tenant solar power use
- Roof system design o Ground installed solar power systems, trellises, common area canopies
- Electrical system power distribution and metering system configuration
- Solar power system deployment in parks and commercial shopping centers, malls and hospitals
- Solar power parking canopies
- Solar power sports stadium bleachers
- Solar power in commercial and industrial applications
- Peak power demand and penalties
- Solar power generation as peak power energy shaver
- Solar power integration with the electrical distribution system
- Solar power system deployment steps a. Solar power feasibility study
- Shading analysis o solar power system environmental design considerations
- Site survey roofing and ground platforms
- Geophysical study and analysis for ground mount systems
- Solar power system topology layout and analysis
- Solar power system equipment requirement analysis
- Solar power system material selection and equipment takeoff
- Solar power system construction costing
- Solar power system design methodology
- Econometric analysis
- Feasibility study report b. Solar power system design
- Solar power platform (ground or roof-mount systems) design
- Ground mount system grading and conduit trenching design
- Rain-water diversion system design
- Ground PV support structure foundation design
- Ground treatment system analysis
- Solar power system topology configuration
- Solar power system material and equipment selection
- Solar power system topology design
- solar power system reliability analysis (mean-time between failure and mean time to repair)
- Solar power system PV string, sub-array system design
- Solar power system DC and AC power distribution and conduit system design
- Solar power system equipment platform foundation design
- Solar power system electrical grounding system design
- Solar power generation system site electrical system design (lighting and power utility receptacles)
- Site fencing and CCTV system design o AC power system equipment accumulator system design
- Grid interconnection transformer station system design
- Construction engineering design and procurement (EPC) specification preparation
- Grid connected solar power system construction and deployment for industrial and commercial systems
- ECP specification evaluation
- Project site visit and investigation
- Solar power system construction system design analysis and considerations
- Project costing (material, equipment, transportation and financing)
- Compliance and legal issue considerations
- EPC procurement document response and compliance
- Equipment and material selection and takeoff
- Manpower and material procurement costing
- Construction logistics evaluation
- Site preparation
- Transportation
- Solar site material and equipment delivery
- Site material storage facility
- Site solar power system sub-array assembly
- Site system security
- Site project management consideration
- Engineering shop drawing design schedule and submittal documentation
- Project planning and construction schedule
- Project mobilization
- System and sub-system test procedures
- Third party system test and certification
- Customer training and documentation
- Long term solar power system warrantee and maintenance planning
- Large scale grid connected solar power systems
- Solar power tracking systems
- Fixed axis
- Single axis tracking systems
- Dual axis tracking system
- Concentrated photovoltaic technologies (CPV)
- Engineering physics of multi-junction photovoltaic cells
- Fresnel lenses and solar prisms
- Solar power tracking system
- Foundation design
- Special deployment and application requirement
- Grid system loading
- Micro-grid power transmission design
- Power output monitoring
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Large scale solar power financing
- Private financing
- Power purchase agreements (PPA)
- Overview of legal and contractual issues
- Overview of large scale system issues, problems and solutions
- Comparative analysis of conventional fossil fuel based power generation technologies versus solar power generation system
- Coal fired electrical thermal plants
- Natural gas electrical thermal plants
- Nuclear power generation
- Solar power system
- Environmental and atmospheric pollution
- Atmospheric pollution CO2, NOX, SH2 resulted from use of fossil fuels
- Creation of inversion layer resulting in climate change
o Acid rain, detriment to aquatic life and growth of algae and special planktons
- Saturation of oceanic waters with CO2
- Promotion of harmful insect growth (i.e Nile Mosquito virus)
- Solar power system as the ultimate non-polluting renewable energy system
- oRequirement for not feed stock or fuel
- Long life o Zero atmospheric or environmental pollution
- Novel PV technology development driving power generation cost par with grid power
- Energy security
- Contribution to local economy and employment
- Importance of professional training and graduate studies in renewable energy technologies
- Overview of the syllabus and proposed curriculum
- AUA International symposium 2017 and its mission o Workshop panel discussions Advantages and disadvantages