Development of a Simulation for a Solar Powered Engine Using Matlab/Simulink

Abstract

This research focused on converting Solar energy into electrical and mechanical energy for the development of transmission system of a Solar Powered Vehicle (SPV) with the use of a DC motor, thereby eliminating the use of fuel and air. A computer simulation model was developed and tested to achieve this goal. The research identified the components for solar powered engine configuration, parameters required for the configuration, developed the required mathematics models, developed the flow chart for the simulation and computer software using Graphics User Interface (GUI) and MATLAB/SIMULINK interface model for the implementation of the mathematical model identified and adopted. This makes it easy to carry – out design and it reduces time consumption. The simulation results for Powered Vehicle (PV) model are: photo – current (Iph) 75800A, cells reverse saturation current (Irs) 7.2626e – 40A, reverse saturation current (Is) 5,17577e109, diode saturation current 1 mf voltage – resistor current Iv 5.5875A, model current Im – inf and model power Pm – inf. The Simulink gave the values of combined DC motor and battery as: voltage 0.2929 V, system on chip SOC 0.7624, angular speed (ωm)  838.9 rad/s and armature current Ia -3.645 A. Solar MSX60 specifications (1000 W/m2, 25°C was used as case study. As seen from the motion curves of the parts (battery), the model starts to operate very quickly. This is to confirm the behavioural aspect of the system and it shows that the model gives better accuracy in the process of computation of data’s GUI under MATLAB and Simulation process in SIMULINK.