https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/77445 Sat, 25 Apr 2026 20:32:53 GMT 2026-04-25T20:32:53Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83404 Title: Testing the electrical power generation of a prototype multi-bladed wind turbine system Abstract: The Faculty of Engineering has been involved in the design of a small-scale nine-bladed wind turbine to provide an efficient alternative to the Chicago windmills distributed across the rural areas of the Maltese Islands. A prototype was constructed and deployed at the Government experimental farm in Għammieri in previous projects. The wind turbine is planned to generate electricity and supply it to the local power network through a wind grid-tie inverter. This dissertation focuses on the series of tests taking place to study the electrical performance of the prototype under controlled laboratory conditions, in the field, and through software modelling. The emulator rig situated in the Power Conversions lab was used to carry out tests under controlled conditions. The DC drive settings and the previously derived inverter characteristic were improved to extend the rotational speed range of the generator. The effect of the increasing temperature of the generator on the electrical parameters was identified. Several field tests were performed under various wind conditions. A total of approximately 7 hours of data was gathered during these tests, 5 of which were useful to the data analysis. The temperature effect was also evident in the field tests despite the cooling effect of the wind. The inverter efficiency curve was extracted from the field tests and was used to translate the Pg-VDC characteristic programmed into the inverter to an equivalent PDC-VDC characteristic for simulation purposes. A software model was used to recognise the impact of each parameter on the overall performance of the small-scale WECS. The translated PDC-VDC characteristic was used to drive the simulation. The wind direction was not considered for this model since the yaw signal was not available. The results from the three sources used showed close agreement between the obtained characteristics with salient points corresponding to the programmed inverter characteristic. Description: B.Eng. (Hons)(Melit.) Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83404 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83330 Title: Building integrated photovoltaics : a case study Abstract: With EU2030 clean energy targets right around the corner and most low-rise traditional buildings have installed roof-mounted photovoltaics over the years we are running out space and options to meet the targets. For high-rise buildings which have a small roof area when compared to the total internal floor area the installation of façade building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) would significantly increase the generation of clean energy hence reducing the carbon footprint of such buildings. The downsides of façade-mounted BIPVs is that they are susceptible to lower levels of irradiance and shading from surrounding buildings. In this dissertation a case study of a high-rise building with integrated façade building applied photovoltaics (BAPV) and BIPVs were studied under different modelled conditions. The conditions which were modelled include the irradiance striking each face of the building under standard conditions and under partial shading conditions, a number of fundamental BIPV characteristics and finally different types of installations used in the interconnection of BIPV arrays such as string inverters and micro-inverters. The different module interconnection models were then simulated under partial shading conditions and compared in order to evaluate which installation would provide the best energy yield at the highest efficiency. Several MATLAB Simulink models consisting of a string inverter interconnection and a micro-inverter interconnection of eighteen PV modules were developed and compared with the results obtained from the PVSITES software. Using both software packages the monthly and annual production were evaluated and compared. Different sections of the NW and SW facades of the building were also simulated. Finally using PVSITES the impact of surrounding high-rise buildings was studied to determine whether it is viable to install BIPVS under certain conditions. Description: B.Eng. (Hons)(Melit.) Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83330 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z