Experimental Investigation of the Angle Inclination Variation Effects

in Photovoltaic Array Prototype Modules

I G. A. B. Wirajati

, I N. Ardita

, I D. M. Cipta Santosa

and I A. G. Bintang Madrini

Mechanical Engineering Department, Bali State Polytechnic, Badung, Bali, Indonesia

Agricultural and Bio-System Engineering Department, Udayana University, Bukit Jimbaran, Badung, Indonesia

Keywords: Photovoltaic, Angle Inclination, Power Output.

Abstract: In this paper, the performance of photovoltaic with three arrays is investigated experimentally. The angle of

inclination 0°, 15°, 30° and 45° were tested in order to find the maximum power output. Determining the

effect of the angle of inclination combined with the placement of the cardinal directions is observed as well.

The test was carried out for seven and a half hours starting in the morning at 08.30 until in the evening at

16.00 of local time in good weather conditions. As a result, 15° of the angle inclinations provide the best value

of power 43.4 watt in average and the influence of the angle of inclination and direction of the placement, it

is obtained that the angle of 30 with the north direction gives the best power output of 55.1 watts.

1 INTRODUCTION

Indonesia, a country in the Asian region, to be precise

in Southeast Asia, is known as a tropical country, of

course, has a high level of sun exposure throughout

the year. However, the use of its exposure is still not

the main commodity that can be used optimally.

Many other tropical countries are also facing the

problems like this (Young,1989, Erdil,2008 and

Mints, 2007). The PV system, which is part of new

and renewable energy, has often been discussed,

starting from the technical level of its implementation

to its economic value and even to the institutional

level (Soteris, 2003, Kwok, 2009, Martins, 2008 and

Lu, 2015). Photovoltaic modules can produce

electricity and heat simultaneously so that they are

categorized as attractive technologies for use in

buildings (Good, 2015, Pearce, 2009 and Ruther,

2008). The installation of the PV module is

influenced by azimuth and shading, which are

basically design parameters to get maximum results

(Yoon, 2011 and Zondag, 2008).

Based on this, we try to do an experiment to take

advantage of the natural resources we have. The

purpose of this study is to find the effect of the angle

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of inclination 0°, 15°, 30° and 45° and the effect of

the angle of inclination combined with the placement

of the cardinal directions on the maximum output

power of photovoltaic. As a result, the output power

of photovoltaic 43.4 watt is produced on tilt angle of

15°. Concerning the combination between tilt angle

and direction obtained the tilt angle 30° and North

side providing best output power.

2 RESEARCH METHOD

2.1 Experimental Apparatus

The experimental apparatus used in this study shows

in figure 1. It consists of three array polycrystalline

type solar panels, solar charge controller, dry battery

with a voltage of 12 V and a capacity of 100 Ah and

inverter.

2.2 Experimental Method

In research, the angles of 0°, 15°, 30° and 45° and the

cardinal directions of the north, south, east, and west

Wirajati, I., Ardita, I., Santosa, I. and Madrini, I.

Experimental Investigation of the Angle Inclination Variation Effects in Photovoltaic Array Prototype Modules.

DOI: 10.5220/0010962800003260

In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Applied Science and Technology on Engineering Science (iCAST-ES 2021), pages 1231-1234

ISBN: 978-989-758-615-6; ISSN: 2975-8246

 2023 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. Under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

1231

for the placement of the solar panel system in

obtaining maximum output power of photovoltaic.

This test is carried out using 1 polycrystalline type

solar panel (poly-crystalline) with a capacity of 100

Wp.

(a)

(b)

Figure 1: Schematic & experimental apparatus: (a) design

of experiment, (b) experiment apparatus.

The location and place for data collection in this

research was carried out at the Bali State Polytechnic

within March - August 2020.

Experimental data was carried out in 3 weeks,

where the angle of inclination was changed each

week. In the first week

The position of the solar panel module is in 0°

position then continuing to other angle position.

The data obtained by conducting direct tests on

the solar panel system, data can be retrieved after the

system works normally, then it is done for five days,

on the first day the angle is 0 ° for seven and a half

hours. On the next day the angles in each panel are

different, with the same duration of time. Recording

data is taken during sunny weather.

Data collection was carried out by following the

test procedure as follows:

1. Prepare testing and measuring tools that will

be used for data collection such as: stopwatch,

multi meter, ampere pliers, hygrometer,

thermo couple, solar power meter, protractor.

2. Ensuring all equipment are work properly.

3. Placing the modul in a place that is exposed to

direct sunlight.

4. Setting the module with the desired angle.

5. Taking measurements of voltage (V), current

(I), temperature (T) and observed in every 30

minutes starting at 08.30 am to 16.00 pm local

time

6. Then recording begins.

The above steps are repeated at each angle to be

studied.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 The Effect of the Angle of

Inclination on the Current Output

The effect of the angle of inclination on the direct

current (DC) released by photovoltaic, starting from

08:30 am to 16:00 pm at local time, with a

combination of 0°, 15°, 30° and 45° is be shown on

figure 2.

The graph can explain that the trends of the

current increase to the maximum limit and decreases

in line with the increasing time. The maximum value

of the current shown by all the PV tilt angle

combinations is at 10:30 pm at local time. The

maximum current value generated is at a tilt angle of

0° with a current of 5.7 A.

3.2 The Effect of the Angel of

Inclination on the Voltage Output

Figure 3 informed the effect of the angle of

inclination on the voltage released by photovoltaic,

with a combination angle of inclination of 0°, 15°, 30°

and 45° from 08:30 am to 16:00 pm at local time.

Based on the graph can explain that the trends of

the voltage increase to the maximum limit and

decreases gradually with the increasing time. The

maximum value of the voltage reached 81.7 volt at

13.30 pm and given by 15°.

There is another trend that can be seen from figure

3 when modules in horizontal position (0°). It’s

iCAST-ES 2021 - International Conference on Applied Science and Technology on Engineering Science

1232

0° 15° 30° 45°

Power (watt)

Position (degree)

shown almost flat. Since repeated experiment held

twice, the tendency is still the same. The closest

opinion is the pseudo motion of sun around earth may

cause this.

Figure 2: Current output in variation of angle inclination.

Figure 3: Voltage output in variation of angle inclination.

3.3 Power Value of Variation Angle

Inclination

Figure 4 shows the power value of each position from

module. Four angles inclination are selected from 0°

to 45° to determine the characteristics of the position

they are placed in.

From the graph it can be concluded that the slope

angle of 15° gives the greatest value, which means

that this position is the best for module to be applied

to give maximum results.

Figure 4: Power value of variation angle inclination.

Figure 5: The effect of the angle of inclination and direction

of placement on the module power output.

3.4 Comparison of Output Power

The graph above shows the amount of power

generated from the combination of the tilt angle and

the direction of the module placement. Data

collection starts at 08.30 until 16.00 WIB, which is

carried out from June to mid-August 2020. From the

graph, it can be seen that the angle of 30 with the

north direction gives the best power output of 55.1

watts. This can be caused by the apparent movement

Current (A)

Time (hour)

0°

15°

30°

45°

Voltage (volt)

0°

5°

0°

Time (hour)

39,7

30,2

32,5

28,8

48,5

47,3

38,3

41,4

55,1

29,5

38,4

52,7

42,5

33,6

East West North South

0° 15°

30° 45°

Power output (

watt

)

Experimental Investigation of the Angle Inclination Variation Effects in Photovoltaic Array Prototype Modules

1233

of the sun, which usually occurs in July and August,

where the sun tends to rise from the north.

4 CONCLUSIONS

From this research it can be concluded that by

positioning the tilt angle on the PV panel gives a

significant effect where angle 15° is the position that

gives the maximum value. In the future, the effect of

the angle of inclination will be combined with the

placement of the cardinal directions in order to

determine the effect. From observing the influence of

the angle of inclination and direction of the

placement, it is obtained that the angle of 30 with the

north direction gives the best power output of 55.1

watts.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research was supported by the Direktorat Riset

dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (DRPM) -

Ministry of Research and Technology-BRIN,

Indonesian Government, No. SPKK :

133/SP2H/AMD/LT/DRPM/2020 and (SP DIPA-

042.06.1.401516/2020) for the in cash contribution.

The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of

Mechanical Engineering Department -Bali State

Polytechnic for the in-kind contributions. Also

Center for Research and Community Service (P3M)

for all administrative support.

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