Suggestion to Use Solar Energy for Lighting of Factory Area

This project involved using solar energy to light up a factory area of 12,274 m2. The objectives included proposing a suggestion for using solar energy, calculating individual loads, determining material quantities, and comparing costs. The project group consisted of team members, and the author's responsibilities included inventory, load calculation, and designing a simple network. The author applied knowledge of photovoltaic cells and mechanical aptitude. The project faced issues of power quality, which were solved by grounding and proper wiring. The author's plan was to produce innovative and creative work collaboratively.

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Suggestion to Use the Solar Energy for Lighting of Factory
Area (12,274 m2)
Location of the project: Please fill
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member of the project
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
Solar energy is being created by the heat or light that is eventually emitted by sun,
within the specific form of electromagnetic radiation. This solar energy can be defined as the
nuclear fusion reaction of sun in the constant energy generated. The average intensity of solar
radiation is 1367 kW/m2. This project of Suggestion to Use the Solar Energy for Lighting of
Factory Area (12,274 m2) was my first mini project in electrical and electronics engineering
career. In 2016, the company was facing a shortage of projects and it was necessary to
support the company to overcome this crisis. So I submitted proposal to use the solar energy
to run the lighting of the Factory Area instead of the traditional electricity to reduce the
monthly costs, this idea was based on some of the scientific theories that I studied during the
MS thesis.
CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
During the project, I have known that solar energy is the most important energy that
provides light with the help of ever evolving technologies like photovoltaic, solar heating

and solar architecture. Since, our factory area was to be lightened with the solar energy, I had
developed the following objectives in this particular project of Suggestion to Use the Solar
Energy for Lighting of Factory Area (12,274 m2):
 To propose a suggestion for using solar energy to light the factory area.
 To calculate individual loads for each light and total load.
 To determine the quantities of materials that are required for running the system like
photocell and inverter.
 To compare the final cost with the annual lighting costs.
CE 3.2.3 My area of work
The project Suggestion to Use the Solar Energy for Lighting of Factory Area (12,274
m2) was the third important project in my engineering career. I had several areas of work in
this particular project. My first major area of work was to design a simple network that
comprised of 7 lines at the rate of 26 units and that would be easier to access and maintain the
system. I even researched about solar energy and how solar energy was helpful in various
case studies. I even analyzed the data for further analysis.

CE 3.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I had some of the major responsibilities in this particular project. The first and the
most important responsibility in this project was the inventory of lamps inside the factory
which equal 182 units at the rate of 400 watts. I even studied the possibility of reducing light
unit while maintaining the quality of lighting required and even studied the possibility of
modifying or changing existing light unit and calculating the cost of each. I was also
responsible for approving the lesser cost, which is the significant modification of the previous
units. I even calculated the individual loads for each light unit and total load. The inventory
quantities such as ballast, connector and lamps that is required for modification was checked
by me. I also determined the quantities of materials needed for running the system such as
photocell based battery as well as inverter. I even designed a simply network consisting of 7
Lines at the rate of 26 units which was easy to access and maintain. Even the final cost of

materials with value of labor hours required for work was calculated by me after comparing
the final cost with the annual lighting cost.
CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I had applied some of the major skills in this particular project. The most important
skill that I have applied here to use solar energy within our factory area was knowledge of
photovoltaic cells. Moreover, I have even utilized my knowledge of solar power in this
project and hence the protection system was made properly. Mechanical aptitude was the next
significant skill applied here. The intense knowledge of mechanics was required here for
making the factory area properly.
CE 3.3.3 Comprehending the Theory of Project
Photovoltaic cells use various types of technologies. Amongst them, the most popular
and significant technologies include mono crystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon and
copper indium gallium selenide thin film. I suggested using CIGS or copper indium gallium
selenide thin film for our factory area. These silicon wafers are usually 150 to 200
micrometer thick. The semiconductor layer materials were above 0.3 to 2 micrometer
thickness. The module efficiency of our silicon PV array was halved for the similar nominal
capacity under STC or standard test conditions. The calculated efficiency was 1000 W/m2
and the temperature of photovoltaic cell was around 2500C and spectrum of 1.5 air mass.
The designing of the solar PV system could be eventually done in four distinct steps.
These are the load estimation, the estimation of the number of PV panels, the estimation of
battery and the estimation of cost of this system. The basic conditions in this project were 2
CFLs, which were each of 18 watts, 2 fans, which were each of 60 watts for 6 hours per day.

Since, our factory area was of a larger area, I had to suggest a better method to use solar
energy for lighting purpose.
The solar panel is the typical device, which helps to collect as well as convert the
solar energy to electricity and heat. The panels of solar photovoltaic could be eventually
made for exciting the solar energy, the atoms within the silicon layer within the two
protective panels. The electrons from the excited atoms help in forming electric current that
could be utilized by the external devices.
The positive charge was also to be created for the purpose of electricity flowing. I
eventually combined silicon with another element like boron that comprise of three electrons
for offering, and thus creating a positive charge. A plate of silicon as well as boron has one
typical spot available for the other electron. Thus, this plate comprise of a positive charge.
These two plates were sandwiched together for making the solar panel, with the conductive
wire running within them. When these conductive wires were drawing the free electrons
away from plates, there was enough electricity for powering the low amperage motor. When
these electrons were not being utilized or were lost to air; these electrons were returned to
negative plate and hence the complete procedure was started once again.
Our result of this project was perfect and provided perfect solution of lightning to our
factory area. The partial implementation in each line was approved and a full line of 26 units
was completed for running. Hence, around 4% of the monthly electricity bill was saved and
we got complete approval for our project. Although the project was hold for some of the
monetary issues, the scientific theories were applied realistically. Thus, my suggestion was
utilized about using solar energy in factory area.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues

I had faced some of the major issues in this particular project. The first issue that I had
faced here was the typical issue of power quality. The widespread utilization of the electronic
equipments like the information technology equipments was the major problem that we had
faced here. The PLC or programmable logic controllers and the ASD or adjustable speed
drives were the examples of power electronics and thus leading to the total change of the
electric load nature. All of the loads were the main causers as well as the main victims of the
problems that are related to power quality. For the reason of non linearity, the specific loads
that had caused disturbances within the waveform of voltage were faced by us.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
To solve all of these above mentioned problems, I suggested some of the easiest
solutions. For the first significant issue of power quality, I gave the suggestion of grounding
and bonding. Grounding can be defined as one of the most significant aspects of electrical
systems. The specific safety ground is responsible for protecting the electrical systems and
the equipments from all the super imposed voltages that are caused by the lightning or the
accidental contacts with the high voltage systems. For the next issue, I provided the
suggestion of proper wiring. The total equipment inspection was the most crucial factor for
ensuring proper wirings within the facility. The complete electrical system must be
eventually checked for the loose, missing or even the improper links at the panels and the
equipments.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
My major plan was producing innovative as well as creative work by simply working
collaboratively. I even segregated the total work perfectly and every task was being executed
perfectly.