Prototype of a Solar Photovoltaic Charging Station Applied to the Propulsion of Artisanal Fishing Vessels in Arequipa, Peru

The main objective of this research study was to analyze the technical aspects of a prototype of a solar charging station applied to artisanal fishing vessels. The experimental model was made up of two banks of batteries, a charge and discharge module, a photovoltaic solar unit, and a measurement and data acquisition module. The measurement of electrical parameters, such as power, electric current, and voltage in the different modules was carried out. In the evaluation phase, the charging effectiveness with different photovoltaic powers were calculated. The charging of batteries with the electrical network, with an Inverter generator and inverterless generator was also evaluated. The same tests were performed for charging using two banks of batteries (made up of four and eight batteries, respectively). Efficiencies were then calculated for each of the tests. The results indicated that the most efficient charging mode was through the use of solar panels, despite the charging time being longer.