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PV System Sizing

The document discusses the key components and sizing principles for solar photovoltaic systems. It explains that grid-connected systems supplement facility loads while stand-alone systems are designed to meet a specific load. The major components are solar panels, charge controller, inverter, battery bank, and loads. The document then provides steps for sizing each component based on power consumption demands, available solar panel wattage, inverter requirements, battery capacity, and charge controller rating. An example application is also included.

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cedric iradukunda
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262 views

PV System Sizing

The document discusses the key components and sizing principles for solar photovoltaic systems. It explains that grid-connected systems supplement facility loads while stand-alone systems are designed to meet a specific load. The major components are solar panels, charge controller, inverter, battery bank, and loads. The document then provides steps for sizing each component based on power consumption demands, available solar panel wattage, inverter requirements, battery capacity, and charge controller rating. An example application is also included.

Uploaded by

cedric iradukunda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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• Appropriate system design and component

sizing is fundamental requirement for reliable


operation, better performance, safety and
longevity of solar PV system.
• The sizing principles for grid connected and stand-alone
PV systems are based on different design and functional
requirements.
a. Grid Connected Systems (without energy storage)
 Provide supplemental power to facility loads.
 Failure of PV system does not result in loss of loads.
b. Stand-Alone Systems (with energy storage)
 Designed to meet a specific electrical load requirement.
 Failure of PV system results in loss of load.
• Solar PV system includes different components that
should be selected according to system type, site
location and applications.
• The major components for solar PV system are
 solar charge controller
 Inverter
 battery bank
 auxiliary energy sources and
 loads (appliances).
• PV module converts sunlight into DC electricity.
Solar charge controller regulates the voltage and current coming from the
PV panels going to
      battery and prevents battery overcharging and prolongs the battery life.
Inverter converts DC output of PV panels or wind turbine into a clean AC
current for AC
      appliances or fed back into grid line.
Battery stores energy for supplying to electrical appliances when there is a
demand.
Load is electrical appliances that connected to solar PV system such as
lights, radio, TV, computer,
      refrigerator, etc.
Auxiliary energy sources is diesel generator or other renewable energy
sources
• 1. Determine power consumption demands The first step in designing a
solar PV system is to find out the total power and energy consumption of
all loads that need to be supplied by the solar PV system as follows:
•      1.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day for each appliance used.
           Add the Watt-hours needed for all appliances together to get the
total Watt-hours per day which
           must be delivered to the appliances.

     1.2 Calculate total Watt-hours per day needed from the PV modules.
            Multiply the total appliances Watt-hours per day times 1.3 (the
energy lost in the system) to get
            the total Watt-hours per day which must be provided by the panels
• . Size the PV modules Different size of PV modules will produce different amount of power. To find
out the sizing of PV module, the total peak watt produced needs. The peak watt (Wp) produced
depends on size of the PV module and climate of site location. We have to consider �panel
generation factor� which is different in each site location. For Thailand, the panel generation
factor is 3.43. To determine the sizing of PV modules, calculate as follows:
•      2.1 Calculate the total Watt-peak rating needed for PV modules
           Divide the total Watt-hours per day needed from the PV modules (from item 1.2) by 3.43 to
get   
           the total Watt-peak rating needed for the PV panels needed to operate the appliances.
•      2.2 Calculate the number of PV panels for the system
           Divide the answer obtained in item 2.1 by the rated output Watt-peak of the PV modules
available
           to you. Increase any fractional part of result to the next highest full number and that will be
the
           number of PV modules required.
• Result of the calculation is the minimum number of PV panels. If more PV modules are installed,
the system will perform better and battery life will be improved. If fewer PV modules are used, the
system may not work at all during cloudy periods and battery life will be shortened.
• 3. Inverter sizing An inverter is used in the system where AC power
output is needed. The input rating of the inverter should never be
lower than the total watt of appliances. The inverter must have the
same nominal voltage as your battery.
• For stand-alone systems, the inverter must be large enough to handle
the total amount of Watts you will be using at one time. The inverter
size should be 25-30% bigger than total Watts of appliances. In case of
appliance type is motor or compressor then inverter size should be
minimum 3 times the capacity of those appliances and must be added
to the inverter capacity to handle surge current during starting.
• For grid tie systems or grid connected systems, the input rating of the
inverter should be same as PV array rating to allow for safe and
efficient operation.
• 4. Battery sizing The battery type recommended for using in solar PV system is deep
cycle battery. Deep cycle battery is specifically designed for to be discharged to low
energy level and rapid recharged or cycle charged and discharged day after day for
years. The battery should be large enough to store sufficient energy to operate the
appliances at night and cloudy days. To find out the size of battery, calculate as follows:
•      4.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day used by appliances.
     4.2 Divide the total Watt-hours per day used by 0.85 for battery loss.
     4.3 Divide the answer obtained in item 4.2 by 0.6 for depth of discharge.
     4.4 Divide the answer obtained in item 4.3 by the nominal battery voltage.
     4.5 Multiply the answer obtained in item 4.4 with days of autonomy (the number of
days that you
           need the system to operate when there is no power produced by PV panels) to
get the required
           Ampere-hour capacity of deep-cycle battery.
• Battery Capacity (Ah) = Total Watt-hours per day used by appliances x Days of autonomy
(0.85 x 0.6 x nominal battery voltage)
• Solar charge controller sizing The solar charge controller is typically rated
against Amperage and Voltage capacities. Select the solar charge
controller to match the voltage of PV array and batteries and then identify
which type of solar charge controller is right for your application. Make
sure that solar charge controller has enough capacity to handle the
current from PV array.
• For the series charge controller type, the sizing of controller depends on
the total PV input current which is delivered to the controller and also
depends on PV panel configuration (series or parallel configuration).
• According to standard practice, the sizing of solar charge controller is to
take the short circuit current (Isc) of the PV array, and multiply it by 1.3
• Solar charge controller rating = Total short circuit current of PV array x 1.3
• Example: A house has the following electrical
appliance usage:
• One 18 Watt fluorescent lamp with electronic
ballast used 4 hours per day.
• One 60 Watt fan used for 2 hours per day.
• One 75 Watt refrigerator that runs 24 hours per day
with compressor run 12 hours and off 12 hours.
• The system will be powered by 12 Vdc, 110 Wp PV
module.
• https://www.leonics.com/support/article2_12
j/articles2_12j_en.php

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