PERIOD: MARCH The course is devoted to present the Photovoltaic power systems and the methods to correctly design, simulate and test the main components, to estimate the energy production with the economic analysis of investment.

Solar energy characterization, models of solar radiation for average and clear sky: use of "ad hoc" software. Pros and cons of Photovoltaics. Structure of the semiconductors: energy bands; doping; p-n junction and electric field; losses in the energy conversion. Spectral response and efficiency of the main technologies: single, multi-crystalline and amorphous silicon, Cadmium Telluride, Copper-Indium- Diselenide. Surface covering per installed kilowatt. Equivalent circuit of the solar cell, I-V and P-V characteristics at variable irradiance and cell temperature. Focus on an application problem: series/parallel connection of cells; I-V curve mismatch and shading effect; hot spots and breakdown; bypass and blocking diodes. Datasheets of the commercial PV modules, thermal coefficients of the electrical quantities. Calculation of the electrical parameters of the PV modules in ambient conditions different from the STC by datasheet of the manufacturers. DC-AC converters for the grid connection: Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT); active/reactive power control; interface protections; protections against over-current and direct/indirect contacts. Sizing of the components in a PV plant: coupling of PV array/inverter: power/voltage/current constraints. Costs of installed power and produced energy. Conventional calculation of energy production: causes of losses in the productivity, economic analysis by the Net Present Value (NPV). Automatic Data Acquisition System, typical testing procedure and experimental results on operating PV plants. Calculation of the energy production in a PV system.

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Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.