1. SOLAR ENERGY LABORATORY
Engineering School – Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Porto Alegre - RS – Brazil
FACILITIES
The Solar Energy Laboratory is located in the Valley Campus of Federal University of Rio
Grande do Sul, in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The facility area is a
lot of 1 hectare with a building area of 220 m2. The researchers can perform tests on the
main components of the photovoltaic and thermal systems, and implement prototypes. It
serves as a permanent source for the development of students' thesis. The Laboratory
works with general instrumentation of electric measurements, test of solar equipment and
microcomputers. The following equipment is available in the facility:
- Outdoor test bench of solar power collectors of water heating, allowing the tracing of
curves of instantaneous performance of up to two collectors simultaneously;
- Solar simulator for photovoltaic tests;
- Radiometers for solar radiation (pireliometers and piranometers) Eppley, Kipp &
Zonen and others of own construction;
- Test bench of batteries' charge and discharge;
- Anenometers, thermometers and other instruments for meteorological measurement;
- Computerized tracing systems of characteristic curves of photovoltaic's cells and
modules with controlled temperature;
- Several computerized systems of data acquisition for general use;
- Small mechanic shop.
As examples of prototypes built and used in research, and demonstration classes, we have:
- Vapor generator using solar energy, with parabolic mirrors of 8 m of length and with
electronic control equipment;
- The Laboratory of Solar Energy by itself can be considered a prototype of the use of the
passive solar energy in the constructions thermal comfort;
- Machine that produces ice for cycle of absorption water-ammonia with capacity of 100
kg/day;
- Group of collectors with 20 m2 to produce heat for the ice machine;
- Drying system for cereal grains using solar energy;
- Water heating system using solar energy;
- Small photovoltaic installation (500 Wp).
Vapor generator using solar energy, with parabolic mirrors 8 m in length with a built-in
electronic control device that allows the system to follow the Sun’s orbit.