Solar System Sizing - Open Electrical
Solar System Sizing - Open Electrical
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Introduction
This calculation outlines the sizing of a standalone solar photovoltaic (PV) power system. Standalone PV systems are
commonly used to supply power to small, remote installations (e.g. telecoms) where it isn't practical or cost-efficient to run a
transmission line or have alternative generation such as diesel gensets.
Although this calculation is biased towards standalone solar PV systems, it can also be used for hybrid systems that draw
power from mixed sources (e.g. commercial PV, hybrid wind-PV systems, etc). Loads must be adjusted according to the
desired amount that the solar PV system will supply.
This calculation is based on crystalline silicon PV technology. The results may not hold for other types of solar PV
technologies and the manufacturer's recommendations will need to be consulted.
Calculation Methodology
The calculation is loosely based on AS/NZS 4509.2 (2002) "Standalone power systems - System design guidelines". The methodology has the following six steps:
Step 1: Estimate the solar irradiation available at the site (based on GPS coordinates or measurement)
Step 2: Collect the loads that will be supported by the system
Step 3: Construct a load profile and calculate design load and design energy
Step 4: Calculate the required battery capacity based on the design loads
Step 5: Estimate the output of a single PV module at the proposed site location
Step 6: Calculate size of the PV array
Direct or beam radiation is made up of beams of unscattered and unreflected light reaching
the surface in a straight line directly from the sun
Diffuse radiation is scattered light reaching the surface from the whole sky (but not directly
from the sun)
Albedo radiation is is light reflected onto the surface from the ground
Solar radiation can be quantitatively measured by irradiance and irradiation. Note that the terms are
2
distinct - "irradiance" refers to the density of the power that falls on a surface (W /m ) and
Figure 2. World solar irradiation map
"irradiation" is the density of the energy that falls on a surface over some period of time such as an
2
hour or a day (e.g. W h/m per hour/day).
In this section, we will estimate the solar radiation available at the site based on data collected in the past. However, it needs to be stressed that solar radiation is
statistically random in nature and there is inherent uncertainty in using past data to predict future irradiation. Therefore, we will need to build in design margins so that the
system is robust to prediction error.
The easiest option is to estimate the solar irradiation (or solar insolation) by inputting the GPS coordinates of the site into the NASA Surface Meteorology and Solar
Resource website.
2
For any given set of GPS coordinates, the website provides first pass estimates of the monthly minimum, average and maximum solar irradiation (in kW h/m /day ) at
ground level and at various tilt angles. Collect this data, choose an appropriate tilt angle and identify the best and worst months of the year in terms of solar irradiation.
Alternatively, for US locations data from the National Solar Radiation Database can be used.
The minimum, average and maximum daytime temperatures at the site can also be determined from the public databases listed above. These temperatures will be used
later when calculating the effective PV cell temperature.
Actual solar irradiation measurements can also be made at the site. Provided that the measurements are taken over a long enough period (or cross-referenced /
combined with public data), then the measurements would provide a more accurate estimate of the solar irradiation at the site as they would capture site specific
characteristics, e.g. any obstructions to solar radiation such as large buildings, trees, mountains, etc.
Most PV arrays are installed such that they face the equator at an incline to the horizontal (for maximum solar collection). The amount of solar irradiation collected on
inclined surfaces is different to the amount collected on a horizontal surface. It is theoretically possible to accurately estimate the solar irradiation on any inclined surface
given the solar irradiation on an horizontal plane and the tilt angle (there are numerous research papers on this topic, for example the work done by Liu and Jordan in
1960).
However, for the practical purpose of designing a solar PV system, we'll only look at estimating the solar irradiation at the optimal tilt angle, which is the incline that
collects the most solar irradiation. The optimal tilt angle largely depends on the latitude of the site. At greater latitudes, the optimal tilt angle is higher as it favours
summertime radiation collection over wintertime collection. The Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering suggests a linear approximation to calculating the
optimal tilt angle:
The handbook also suggests a polynomial approximation for the solar irradiation at the optimal tilt angle:
G(0)
G(β opt ) =
−4 −4 2
1 − 4.46 × 10 × β opt − 1.19 × 10 × β
opt
2
Where G(β opt ) is the solar irradiation on a surface at the optimal tilt angle (W h/m )
2
G(0) is the solar irradiation on the horizontal plane (W h/m )
β opt is the optimal tilt angle (deg)
Alternatively, the estimated irradiation data on tilted planes can be sourced directly from the various public databases listed above.
Solar Trackers
Solar trackers are mechanical devices that can track the position of the sun throughout the day and orient the PV array accordingly. The use of trackers can significantly
increase the solar irradiation collected by a surface. Solar trackers typically increase irradiation by 1.2 to 1.4 times (for 1-axis trackers) and 1.3 to 1.5 times (for 2-axis
trackers) compared to a fixed surface at the optimal tilt angle.
Non-Standard Applications
A solar irradiation loss factor should be used for applications where there are high tilt angles (e.g. vertical PV arrays as part of a building facade) or very low tilt angles
(e.g. North-South horizontal trackers). This is because the the solar irradiation is significantly affected (detrimentally) when the angle of incidence is high or the solar
radiation is mainly diffuse (i.e. no albedo effects from ground reflections). For more details on this loss factor, consult the standard ASHRAE 93, "Methods of testing to
determine the thermal performance of solar collectors" .
Firstly, the average effective PV cell temperature at the installation site needs to be calculated (as it will be used in the subsequent calculations). It can be estimated for
each month using AS\NZS 4509.2 equation 3.4.3.7:
Tcell,ef f = Ta,day + 25
Standard Regulator
For a solar power system using a standard switched charge regulator / controller, the derated power output of the PV module can be calculated using AS\NZS 4509.2
equation 3.4.3.9(1):
Where Pmod is the derated power output of the PV module using a standard switched charge controller (W)
To estimate IT ,V , you will need the IV characteristic curve of the PV module at the effective cell temperature calculated above. For a switched regulator, the average PV
module operating voltage is generally equal to the average battery voltage less voltage drops across the cables and regulator.
MPPT Regulator
For a solar power system using a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge regulator / controller, the derated power output of the PV module can be calculated
using AS\NZS 4509.2 equation 3.4.3.9(2):
Where Pmod is the derated power output of the PV module using an MPPT charge controller (W)
P stc is the nominal module power under standard test conditions (W)
fman is the manufacturer's power output tolerance (pu)
fdirt is the derating factor for dirt / soiling (Clean: 1.0, Low: 0.98, Med: 0.97, High: 0.92)
ftemp is the temperature derating factor - see below (pu)
The temperature derating factor is determined from AS\NZS 4509.2 equation 3.4.3.9(1):
Standard Regulator
The number of PV modules required for the PV array can be found by using AS\NZS 4509.2 equation 3.4.3.11(1):
Ed × fo
N =
P mod × G × ηcoul
The oversupply coefficient fo is a design contingency factor to capture the uncertainty in designing solar power systems where future solar irradiation is not deterministic.
AS/NZS 4509.2 Table 1 recommends oversupply coefficients of between 1.3 and 2.0.
MPPT Controller
The number of PV modules required for the PV array can be found by using AS\NZS 4509.2 equation 3.4.3.11(2):
Ed × fo
N =
P mod × G × ηpvss
The oversupply coefficient fo is a design contingency factor to capture the uncertainty in designing solar power systems where future solar irradiation is not deterministic.
AS/NZS 4509.2 Table 1 recommends oversupply coefficients of between 1.3 and 2.0.
The efficiency of the PV sub-system ηpvss is the combined efficiencies of the charge regulator / controller, battery and transmission through the cable between the PV
array and the battery. This will depend on specific circumstances (for example, the PV array a large distance from the battery), though an efficiency of around 90% would
be typically used.
Worked Example
A small standalone solar power system will be designed for a telecommunications outpost located in the desert.
Suppose the average daytime ambient temperature is 40C. The effective PV cell temperature is:
Tcell,ef f = Ta,day + 25
= 40 + 25 = 65 deg C
Given a medium dirt derating factor of 0.97, the derated power output of the PV module is:
3, 216 × 1.1
= = 10.9588 modules
93.77 × 4.05 × 0.85
Computer Software
It is recommended that the solar PV system sized in this calculation is simulated with computer software. For example, HOMER is a popular software package for
simulating and optimising a distributed generation (DG) system originally developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
What Next?
With the sizing calculation completed, the solar PV equipment (PV array, batteries, charge controllers, etc) can be specified and a cost estimate or budget enquiry /
requisition package issued. The approximate dimensions of the equipment (especially the PV array and batteries) can also be estimated and a design layout can be
produced.