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Solar PV Lecture 5 Grid-Connected

This document provides an overview of sizing procedures for grid-connected solar PV systems. It describes factors to consider like available space, money, and what the grid will accept. It also outlines steps for site assessment including available area, tilt angle, and orientation. Procedures are provided for calculating the number of modules that can fit based on the roof dimensions and module size.

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omacheza
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20 views17 pages

Solar PV Lecture 5 Grid-Connected

This document provides an overview of sizing procedures for grid-connected solar PV systems. It describes factors to consider like available space, money, and what the grid will accept. It also outlines steps for site assessment including available area, tilt angle, and orientation. Procedures are provided for calculating the number of modules that can fit based on the roof dimensions and module size.

Uploaded by

omacheza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Solar Photovoltaics

ESRE 3605: Solar Photovoltaics


Lecture 5 : Grid-connected Solar
PV Systems
Dr ML Chitawo
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Mobile: +265 884 124 790
+265 994 348 400

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June 2018


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Aim of this Unit
To introduce sizing procedures of grid-connected Solar PV Systems

What you will learn in this Unit

After working through this unit you should be able to:

(i) Describe the procedure of sizing a grid-connected solar PV


system

(ii) Calculate the number of PV modules for installation in a system

(iii) Select appropriate size of inverter for installation in a system

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Design objective of grid-connected Solar PV Systems


 Generate specific amount of electrical energy over a specific period,
say, one year
 PV system designed based on the energy balance (the generated
energy and the consumed energy match over the year)

Factors that can affect system size


 available space for mounting the solar array

 the amount of money the client is willing to pay for the system

 the metering system available or the grid operator is will to accept

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Site Assessment
 First and important step in the design and installation of a solar PV
system
 A site assessment aims to determine:
(i) Available space or area

(ii) the location of the PV array

(iii) the roof specifications

(iv) the amount of shading

 Collect all the necessary information required to optimize system


design and plan for a time-efficient and safe installation

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Site Assessment
(i) Available space
 Influences the number of PV modules that can fit into a shade-free location
(ii) Location of the PV array
 On the roof of a building
 Clear area of ground that will not be shaded (by trees or nearby buildings)
Roof specifications
A. Orientation
 The ideal orientation is where a module receives maximum sunlight (this is
true north for systems installed in the southern hemisphere)
 Use a compass and magnetic declination data to determine the orientation
that the roof is facing and its bearing from the ideal orientation

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June 2018


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Site Assessment
Roof specifications
B. Tilt angle
 The tilt angle should be measured using an inclinometer or an
angle finder

 The tilt angle may also be available on architectural drawings of the


building

 The optimum tilt for a system is equal to the latitude of the location
±5o

 In cases where the pitch of the roof is not equal to the optimum tilt
angle the PV array’s energy yield will be affected
Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June
Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic
Site Assessment Systems
Roof specifications

Fig. 5.1: Orientation and tilt angle Fig. 5.2: Key balance of
of a Solar PV array system components of a roof
mounted grid-connected system

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June 2018


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Sizing a PV array for installation on a shade-free roof top


 Measure the available roof space using a tape measure or from
architectural designs of the building

 Determine the edge zone (free space along the perimeter of the roof,
≈20% of the roof area)

 Determine the number of PV modules that can fit the available area

 The number of modules that can fit on a roof is limited by the length
and width of the module compared with the length and width of the
available roof space

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Sizing a PV array for installation on a shade-free roof top


 A module is generally rectangular in shape and has two fixed
dimensions, length and width
 Modules can be installed either mounted in landscape (length parallel
to the length of the roof) or in portrait (length parallel to the width if the
roof)

Fig. 5.3: PV
Modules laid in
(a)
landscape and
(a) Landscape (b)
(b) portrait
Portrait
Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June
Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Sizing a PV array for installation on a shade-free roof top


 Orientation allowing the installation of the most modules must be
calculated

Portrait installation

 Deduct the edge zone from the width and the length of the roof

 Calculate the number of rows that can be installed by dividing the


remaining width of the roof by the length of the module

 Calculate the number of columns that can be installed by dividing the


remaining length of the roof by the width of the module

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Sizing a PV array for installation on a shade-free roof top

(b) Number of columns


(a) Number of rows

Fig. 5.3: Evaluation of number of PV Modules that can be installed on a roof


in portrait installation (a) number of rows and (b) number of columns

 The final number of modules to be installed depends on the choice of inverter and the
number of modules that can be connected in series and parallel to that inverter

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June 2018


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Sizing a PV array for installation on a shade-free roof top


Landscape installation
 Deduct the edge zone from the width and the length of the roof
 Divide the remaining width of the roof by the width of the module to
find the number of rows
 Divide the remaining length of the roof by the length of the module to
find the number of columns
 Multiply the number of modules along the length by the number of
modules along the width to find the total number of modules that can
be installed on the roof

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Sizing a PV array for installation on a shade-free roof top


Landscape installatation

(b) Number of columns


(a) Number of rows
Fig. 5.3: Evaluation of number of PV Modules that can be installed on a
roof in landscape installation (a) number of rows and(b) number
of columns

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th June 2018


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Design parameters

1) Daily insolation for the site (Peak Sun-hours)

2) Overall system efficiency

3) Output voltage of a string of modules (should be):

(i) below the maximum system voltage specified on each


module

(ii) below the maximum inverter input voltage

(iii) within the MPPT range of the inverter

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Energy efficiency initiatives

 PV System designer must provide the system owner with a list of


recommendations to reduce their energy usage so that the proposed
grid-connected PV system can meet all or a larger portion of their
daily electrical energy requirements

Health, safety and environment (HSE) risks


 Conduct a risk assessmentof the site and determine the site-specific
risks in the assessment

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th


Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Local environment
• Identify any features of the local environment that can affect
equipment selection
• These may include:
(a) Local temperature range
 Know the local temperature range when designing the solar PV
array
 Solar PV equipment operate within a specified temperate range,
which is given on equipment data sheets

(b) Corrosive conditions such as salt in the atmosphere


 Check that the site is not prone to elements that can cause corrosion
on the system structures

Mzuzu University Tuesday, 12th


End

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