Application of flexible photovoltaic modules to attend field hospitals of the Brazilian Army

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article aims to assess the possibility of meeting the energy demand of a Brazilian Army field hospital using a photovoltaic system with flexible modules positioned on its roof and adjacent structures. Pacaraima, a city hosting an institutional operation with the deployment of these hospitals, was chosen as the area for conducting simulations. The building was characterized based on the energy demand of three different groups within the hospital: hospital equipment, non-hospital equipment, and the air conditioning system. Based on this, the simulations evaluated three scenarios: the generation capacity of the flexible photovoltaic modules on the roof of a hospital unit, the area required to meet its entire demand, and the requirements for partial equipment coverage. It was observed that the roof of a field hospital is unable to fully meet any of the evaluated load groups. However, when utilizing the roofs of adjacent buildings, it was found that any institutional operation is capable of meeting the energy demands of both hospital and non-hospital equipment. Complete coverage is conditional upon the existence of an operation that has, at least, nine buildings similar to the field hospital.