Abstract
Following the intensified shift to a mixed-mode teaching and learning approach, a common challenge faced by students at the University of Botswana is a scarcity of charging points. Most charging points are indoors and not adequate for the student population. Even when available, indoor charging stations have no provision for chargers, hence the development of a mobile charging station equipped with all classes of chargers. In this study, an investigation of the energy and exergy performance of the locally developed 6W charging station, designed to improve charging convenience to the University of Botswana community, is undertaken. In carrying out the energy and exergy analysis, measurements of irradiance, wind speed, voltage, and current were undertaken for the existing system at intervals of 30 minutes and the results were analyzed. The solar station analysis indicated maximum and average energy efficiencies of 14.15 % and 11.92 % respectively, an exergy efficiency average of 5.44 %, and an exergy efficiency maximum of 12.16 %. The system achieved a power conversion efficiency of 12.9 % and a 1.24 % increase in the exergy efficiency after it was modified. At high module temperatures, the performance of the module was severely affected as the losses were high. Results achieved from the extensive performance analysis of the developed 6W system will help improve the energy and exergy performance of the system.
