Objective Scope Thesis Outline Introduction

1.2 Problem Statement

Solar energy is a kind of renewable energy that is widely used nowadays. Solar energy is an alternative solution to overcome fossil fuel crisis. It is come from radiation of sun coming to earth in a day[1]. Photovoltaic PV is a term that refers to convert solar energy that come from sun to electrical energy by solar cell. The research of photovoltaic system is very useful and relevance nowadays. To generate electricity in large amount, solar cell that expose to radiation of sun must be in large size. However, large size of solar cell may have a tendency to increase the probability to be effected by lightning strike activity. Lightning strike is a natural phenomenon that caused by electric discharge in the atmosphere. Lightning produce very high voltage that can damage photovoltaic system by creating the streamer from sharp edges or the around the corner. Furthermore, the lightning strike can induce the unwanted signal that may propagating the radiation electric field through the solar panel and pass the unwanted current to the electrical system. For that reason, lightning protection on photovoltaic system is very important to avoid the effect of the strike damaging the photovoltaic system. This thesis is purposely to study the propagation effect of the induce voltage to the solar panel by the horizontal discharge which produced by 1.250µs lightning wave shape. This lightning wave shape is generated by the impulse generator in FKE’s HV lab. The results from experiments were used to observe and to investigate the characteristics of unwanted signal that couple to the solar panel system.

1.3 Objective

The objectives of this project are 1. To investigate the characteristics of unwanted signal that propagate and couple to the solar panel system by generating the lightning artificial discharge 1.250µs in horizontal orientation layout. 2. To analyze the major parameters of unwanted signal such as, the highest peak voltage and the duration that couple to the solar panel system 3. To investigate and provide the effective of shielding technique in reducing the effect of unwanted signal for photovoltaic system.

1.4 Scope

The scope of this project includes 1. Generating the lightning impulse voltage 1.250µs with of 20 to 30kV which connected with measuring unit DMI551 2. The photovoltaic system comprising 12V solar panel, tube gas discharge as surge protective device SPD and coaxial cable 75Ω impedance connected to oscilloscope. 3. The spark gap was set in horizontal in such a way that it can produce the induce voltage discharge in horizontal orientation while the panel was located approximately 3 meter from the spark gap and set as vertical position.

1.5 Thesis Outline

This report consist 5 chapters. In Chapter 1, problem statement, objective and scope of this project was discussed. Chapter 2 was discussed about literature review based on journal, books and other source. The literature review consists of theory, idea, practical and info that related this project based on previous research. Chapter 3 was discussed about methodology of this project. The methodology of this project is summarized in a flow chart. Chapter 4 presents result of this project consists of result. In Chapter 5, analysis and discussion were discussed. In Chapter 6, conclusion and recommendation was summarized. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

Literature review is implemented to understand the concept of lightning protection on photovoltaic system. Literature review is executed by using several references such as IEEE journals, book and some internet resource. It is important to understand the concept of this project before proceed with conduct an experiment on lightning protection on photovoltaic system. Several concepts of cases which are related to the project will be explained in this chapter.

2.2 Photovoltaic PV