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Workings

This document summarizes the field engineer's involvement in installing a 150kWp solar energy project in 3 countries. The engineer evaluated the site for solar potential, ensured proper orientation and no shading, and oversaw mounting and installation. Common grid-connected PV systems and their components are discussed. The engineer was responsible for design considerations, safety standards, and overseeing installation according to best practices.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
72 views

Workings

This document summarizes the field engineer's involvement in installing a 150kWp solar energy project in 3 countries. The engineer evaluated the site for solar potential, ensured proper orientation and no shading, and oversaw mounting and installation. Common grid-connected PV systems and their components are discussed. The engineer was responsible for design considerations, safety standards, and overseeing installation according to best practices.

Uploaded by

uaminu422
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

TO

NAME SIGN DATE

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CERTIFICATION

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DEDICATION
I dedicate this Report to God

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iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I give God Almighty all the appreciation, for His loving kindness, and grace over me.
The data used were obtained from the activities being performed while under the
obligation of the company.

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CHAPTER ONE

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CHAPTER THREE
3.0 DETAILS OF ENGINEERING WORK EXPERIENCE
3.1 PROJECT: INSTALLATION OF I 50kwp SOLAR ENERGY.
PROJECT COST: #100M CONSULTANT: NATIONAL
POWER TRAINING INSTITUTE POSITION HELD: FIELD
ENGINEER PERIOD: 3 MONTHS

3.1.1 PROJECT DISCRIPTION INTRODUCTION


The solar PV Power system supplied by National Power Training Institute Nigeria Ltd is a high efficient,
extendable and cost effective grid tied solar power system. The system is designed to International
Standards to ensure that you have years of trouble-free operations. As a result of proven technology, the
system is highly efficient and maintenance free. With one-time investment, the solar power system
provides the prudent way of managing the energy costs in an eco-friendly way. The savings made on
energy costs will help the company to directly benefit by reduced OPEX cost and contributing to their
growth. The List of major components used in this system are listed below.
Solar PV Modules: The sun light (solar radiation) falling on the modules is converted in to DC energy
by photovoltaic principle. The generated by solar modules can either be used to supply the power to the
connected load or to charge the battery bank.
PV Inverter (PCU): PCU is a common terminology used to the system consisting of Inverter and AC
synchronization functionality. PCU does the function of controlling grid power by leading PF and prefer
the solar energy to the load. The system also contains the Charge Controller as part of the same system
or as an independent unit.
Module mounting structure (MMS): MMS is the structure to mount the solar PV modules with specified
angle depending on the location when the system to be mounted. The tilting will vary depending on the
longitude and latitude of the location. Salient Features and Benefits of System
• A clean, silent and eco-friendly source of power
• Solar modules convert sunlight into electricity without pollution
• Negligible maintenance as there are no moving parts and maximum reliability
• Long life span of solar modules
• Modular design and easily expandable
• Simple installation: can be mounted on roof top or ground
• Can be installed at point-of use to avoid transmission losses
• Energy Independence
• Protection against future escalation of energy costs
• Available throughout the year

OBJECTIVE

Solar power generating system supplied for this project shall be utilized for complementing the power of
the engine room of the brewery for daytime period of sunshine.
The system is designed to generate the energy in an eco-friendly manner with the source from solar
radiation which is available in abundance. The system designed is for 150kWp Solar Power Generation
Grid Connecting System. The system does not have any storage for standby power. The solar PV array
consist of 465 no’s of 325Wp crystalline solar modules. These modules will be connected in series /
parallel combination through solar array DC combiner box to the desired string configuration as per the
design parameters of the PCU. The PCU is 5 units of 25kW Schneider Conext CL inverters with three
phase AC Output. Grid power supply is provided to support the loads and to reduce the Grid power
consumption when solar power is available.
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The power generated from solar array is fed into the PCU through DC Array Combiner Box and being
inverted by the PCU (Vac). This voltage is being combined with standard grid supply to the phases
(R/Y/B) and will lead the power factor of the inverter supply by comparing the grid power factor. So the
solar generated power will always be preferred by the leading power factor and rest of the power will be
used from the grid as required by the load. If the load demand is lesser than the solar power generated,
the balance power may be exported to grid and customer may get feed-in benefit as per the policies of
the local electricity board. This system is working in the principal of power factor comparison and the
system will feed the power either to load or grid through grid power supply. That means loads will be
indirectly connected with the solar system. So, if the grid supply is not available at any moment the solar
system will shut OFF immediately. We can only use sunlight directly to the load whenever the grid
power is available. The system will shuts OFF at the time of low intensity or no sun light and restarts
automatically when the sunlight is available. The proposed system does not required any dedicated loads
or separate wiring to work on. At the time of power failure if the customer turns ON the DG supply
again the solar system will run and pushes the energy back to the DG. To avoid this reverse current
situation, the DG rating should be at least 4 to 5 times higher rating than the proposed solar power plant
rating. System Details:
1. Solar PV Modules: PV Jinko, Jinko 325Wp - Polycrystalline Quantity: 450 Nos. (450
x 325 = 151kWp). - Solar PV Module exposed to the sunlight converts it into DC energy.
2. DC Array Combiner Box: 3 string inputs and 1 output 30A/1000VDC Quantity - 5
Nos.
- The power DC Array Combiner Box is a DC/DC converter connected to Solar PV modules to increase
the energy output from PV systems by constantly tracking the maximum power point (MPPT) for one or
more modules individually
3. PCU / Inverter: Schneider Conext CL 25kW 3-Phase Grid Tied Inverter 3
Phase - AC Output - 1 No
- The inverter responsible for DC to AC inversion
4. The output of the inverter is connected to the AC Panel through a proper AC Protection.
5. Inter connecting cables are used to interconnect solar PV components like Solar Modules, Junction
Boxes, & Inverter.

3.1.3 Applications of Health, Safety and Environmental Standards to the Area of Practice. •
Identify current and critical HSE issues
• Ensure your PV solar plant is designed and planned in compliance with all relevant regulations and
requirements
• Protect the health and safety of workers
• Decrease accident risks, theft and damage
• Decrease the risk of environmental damage
• Improve onsite productivity
• Gain recommendations for future safety maintenance

3.1.4 SCOPE OF THE WORK


• Evaluating a building site for its solar potential
• Common grid-connected PV system configurations and components
• Considerations in selecting components
• Considerations in design and installation of a PV system
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• Typical costs and the labor required to install a PV system
• Basic Principles to Follow When Designing a Quality PV System
• Basic Steps to Follow When Installing a PV System
3.1.5 MY INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROJECT
I worked as field engineer in this project, I performed the following activities:
Evaluating the Site for Solar PV Potential
Involve in checking of the site whether it has good location for excellent solar potential, because not
every site will be suitable for a solar installation.
The first step in the design of a photovoltaic system is to determining if the site considering has good
solar potential. Some questions need to be ask such as:
• Does the roof have enough area to accommodate the solar array?
• Is the installation site free from shading by nearby trees, buildings or other obstructions?
• Can the PV system be oriented for good performance?
• If the array will be roof-mounted, what kind of roof is it and what is the condition?

Mounting Location - Solar modules are usually mounted on roofs. If roof area is not available, PV
modules can be pole-mounted, ground-mounted, and wallmounted or installed as part of a shade
structure

Shading - Photovoltaic arrays are adversely affected by shading. A well-designed PV system needs clear
and unobstructed access to the sun’s rays from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., throughout the year. Even small
shadows, such as the shadow of a single branch of a leafless tree can significantly reduce the power
output of a solar module.
Orientation -PV modules are ideally oriented towards true south. But the tilt or orientation of a roof
does not need to be perfect because solar modules produce 95 percent of their full power when within 20
degrees of the sun’s direction. Roofs that face east or west may also be acceptable. Flat roofs work well
because the PV modules can be mounted on frames and tilted up toward true south.
Roof Types - For roof-mounted systems, typically composition shingles are easiest to work with and
slate and tile roofs are the most difficult. Nevertheless, it is possible to install PV modules on all roof
types. If the roof will need replacing within 5 to 10 years, it should be replaced at the time the PV
system is installed to avoid the cost of removing and reinstalling the PV system.
3.1.6 Common grid-connected PV system configurations and components

Photovoltaic System Types


Photovoltaic system types can be broadly classified by answers to the following questions:

• Will it be connected to the utility’s transmission grid?


• Will it produce alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) electricity, or both?
• Will it have battery back-up?
• Will it have back-up by a diesel, gasoline or propane generator set?

On this project we focus on systems that are connected to the utility transmission grid, variously referred
to as utility-connected, grid-connected, grid- interconnected, grid-tied or grid-intertied systems.

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These systems generate the same quality of alternating current (AC) electricity as is provided by your
utility. The energy generated by a grid-connected system is used first to power the AC electrical needs of
the home or business. Any of the building’s power requirements that are not met by the PV system are
powered by the transmission grid. In this way, the grid can be thought of as a virtual battery bank for the
building.

System Components
Basic components of grid-connected PV systems without batteries are:
• Solar photovoltaic modules
• Array mounting racks
• Grounding equipment
• Combiner box
• Surge protection (often part of the combiner box)
• Inverter
• Meters - system meter and kilowatt-hour meter
• Disconnects: - Array DC disconnect - Inverter DC disconnect - Inverter AC disconnect - Exterior AC
disconnect Solar Modules
The heart of a photovoltaic system is the solar module. Many photovoltaic cells are wired together by
the manufacturer to produce a solar module. When installed at a site, solar modules are wired together in
series to form strings. Strings of modules are connected in parallel to form an array.

Array Mounting Racks


Arrays are most commonly mounted on roofs or on steel poles set in concrete. On this project our
panel’s arrays are roof-mounted, the PV array is typically mounted on fixed racks, parallel to the roof for
aesthetic reasons and stood off several inches above the roof surface to allow airflow that will keep them

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as cool as practical.
Grounding Equipment
Grounding equipment provides a well-defined, low-resistance path from the system to the ground to
protect the system from current surges from lightning strikes or equipment malfunctions. Grounding also
stabilizes voltages and provides a common reference point. The grounding harness is usually located on
the roof.
System Grounding - System grounding requires taking one conductor from a two- wire system and
connecting it to ground. In a DC system, this means bonding the negative conductor to ground at one
single point in the system. This was done inside the inverter room, not at the PV array.
Combiner Box
Wires from individual PV modules or strings are run to the combiner box, typically located on the roof.
These wires are single conductor pigtails with connectors that are pre-wired onto the PV modules. The
output of the combiner box is one larger two wire conductor in conduit. A combiner box typically
includes a safety fuse or breaker for each string and include a surge protector.

Surge Protection
Surge protectors help to protect the system from power surges that may occur if the PV system or nearby
power lines are struck by lightning. A power surge is an increase in voltage significantly above the
design voltage.
System Meter
The system meter measures and displays system performance and status.
Monitored points may include power production by modules, electricity used, and battery charge. It is
possible to operate a system without a system meter, though meters are strongly recommended. Modem
charge controllers incorporate system monitoring functions and so a separate system meter may not be
necessary.

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Disconnects
Automatic and manual safety disconnects protect the wiring and components from power surges and
other equipment malfunctions. They also ensure the system can be safely shut down and system
components can be removed for maintenance and repair. For grid connected systems, safety disconnects
ensure that the generating equipment is isolated from the grid, which is important for the safety of utility
personnel. In general, disconnect is needed for each source of power or energy storage device in the
system.

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Inverter

Inverters take care of four basic tasks of power conditioning:


• Converting the DC power coming from the PV modules to AC power
• Ensuring that the frequency of the AC cycles is 60 cycles per second
• Reducing voltage fluctuations
• Ensuring that the shape of the AC wave is appropriate for the application, i.e. a pure sine wave for
gridconnected systems
Criteria for Selecting a Grid-Connected Inverter -
The following factors were considered to select the grid-connected inverter used for the project: • A ULI 741
listing of the inverter for use in a grid-interactive application • The voltage of the incoming DC current from
the solar array
• The DC power window of the PV array
• Characteristics indicating the quality of the inverter, such as high efficiency and good frequency
and voltage regulation
• Additional inverter features such as meters, indicator lights, and integral safety disconnects
• Manufacturer warranty, which is typically 5-10 years
• Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) capability, which maximizes power output.
Power Quality - Inverters for grid-connected systems produce better than utilityquality power. For
gridconnection, the inverter must have the words “Utility- Interactive” printed directly on the listing label.

Voltage Input - The inverter’s DC voltage input window must match the nominal voltage of the solar array,
usually 235V to 600V for systems without batteries.

AC Power Output - Grid-connected systems are sized according to the power output of the PV array, rather than
the load requirements of the building. This is because any power requirements above what a grid-connected PV
system can provide is automatically drawn from the grid.

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Surge Capacity - The starting surge of equipment such as motors is not a consideration in sizing grid-connected
inverters. When starting, a motor may draw as much as seven times its rated wattage. For grid-connected
systems, this start-up surge is automatically drawn from the grid.

Frequency and Voltage Regulation - Better quality inverters will produce near constant output voltage and
frequency.
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) - Modem non-battery based inverters include maximum power point
tracking. MPPT automatically adjusts system voltage such that the PV array operates at its maximum power
point

3.1.7 Challenges encountered and Solutions


• Challenge 1;
Shade was the first challenge we face at the site because it is a huge factor that inhibits the amount of solar
energy that will be produced by PV. The main reason is that it is an inhibitor because it serves as a sun blocker.

• Solution ;
The tree’s that are causing the shade are totally cut down and there is enough space for PV to receive direct sun.

• Challenge 2
The second challenge is weather conditions, which play a major role in solar panel performance. The weather
ailments that hinder solar panels performances is raining season which reduce the efficiency of the PV

• Solution;
The solution to this issue is that we do our calculation of PV base on the raining season which now bring more
efficiency during dry season when there is a lot of sun.
3.1.8 Experience Gained
• I can easily do load calculation and recommend a suitable system for a client
• I can easily identify the location where my pv should face when installing solar panel
• I can work on any inverter system be it grid tie or normal conventional inverter
I also learnt how to calculate for total number of solar
panel using mppt maximum input voltage CHAPTER
FOUR

4.0 Conclusion

As I have narrated above in this report, I have gained adequate Work Experience in Electrical
Engineering (design, site supervision and office management) as well as knowledge in
procurement matters, project management and contracts administration. I have now managed
to bridge theories and reality on site. I have faced many challenges while implementing
projects and I have also been able to look for the solution to those problems.

Further I certify that, this report results from my involvement in various Electrical Engineering
works carried out and is not copied from any unauthorized materials and thus the activities
written in this report were carried out under close supervision of Registered Engineers.
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With regard to the professional engineering work experience I have gained so far, I finally wish
the COREN to consider, evaluate and approve my application for registration as an Engineer.

Name: ……………………………..

Signature:……………………………

Date:……………………………….

1 Endorsement

I, the undersigned, have gone through the report that has been prepared and we endorse the
experience attained and reported by the writer. Based on our personal knowledge of the
character and professional reputation of the applicant, I recommend for acceptance of this
Work Experience report by the COREN in Partial fulfillment of the requirements for
registration as Registered Engineer/Technologist.

Name Stamp and Signature

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