RENEWABLE ENERGY EDUCATION PROJECT

KNUST SHORT COURSES PROGRAMME

Grid-Connected Solar PV System Design and Installation

Distributed Generation Solar PV

Ahmed O BAGRE June 2009

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Part 1: Electricity fundamental

Part 1 Learning Objectives

Explain water analogy applied to electricity

Compare AC and DC electrical current and understand their important differences Explain the relationship between volts, amps, amp-hours, watts, watt-hours, and kilowatthours
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Hydraulic circuit

Electrical circuit

Pressure and Voltage

Resistances in series

T1

R1

T2

R2

Q = Q1 = Q2 P =PT1 + PT2

I = I1 = I2 U=U1 + U2

Resistances in parallel

T1

T2

R1

R2

Q = Q1 + Q2 PT1 = PT2 = P

I = I1 + I2 UR1 = UR2 = U
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Synthesis: Water Electricity analogy

Electricity Terminology

Resistance ()
The opposition of a material to the flow of an

electrical current Depends on

Material Cross sectional area Length Temperature

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Electricity Terminology
Resistance
L: Length (m)

: Resistivity depending on cable material (/m/mm) - cu = 0.0183 /m/mm for copper (Cu)

- alu =
A:Cross section area (mm)

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Electricity Terminology

Voltage (E or V)
Unit of electromotive force Can be thought of as electrical pressure

Ohms Law

V: Voltage (V)

R: Resistance ()

I:Current flow (A)

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Electricity Terminology

Amps (I or A)
Rate of electron flow Electrical current 1 Amp = 1 coulomb/second = 6.3 x 1018

electrons/second
V: Voltage (V)

R: Resistance () I:Current flow (A)

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Electricity Terminology

Watt (W) are a measure of Power

Amps x Volts = Watts

1 Kilowatt (kW) = 1000 watts

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Electricity Terminology

Watt-hour is the unit of Energy Amp x Volts x hours = Watt-hours

1 Kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 1000 watts-hour (wh)

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Electricity Terminology

Amp-hour (Ah)
Quantity of electron flow Used for battery sizing (capacity) Amps x hours = Amp-hours Amp-hours x Volts = Watt-hours A 200 Ah Battery delivering 1A will last _____ hours 200 Ah Battery delivering10 A will last _____ hours 100 Ah Battery x 12 V = _____ Wh

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Types of Electrical Current

DC = Direct Current
PV panels produce DC Batteries store DC

AC = Alternating Current
Utility power Most consumer appliances

use AC
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Energy Conversion

Conversion efficiency

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Energy conversion

sun

Converter

Energy input Solar irradiance 1000 W/m

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Part 2: BASIC OF PHOTOVOLTAIC

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Part 2 Learning Objectives

Learn how a PV cell produces electricity from

sunlight
Discuss the 3 basic types of PV cell technologies Understand the effects of cell temperature and

solar insolation on PV performance

Gain understanding of module specification
Identify the various parts of a module
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SOLAIRE PHOTOVOLTAIQUE

CENTRALE ELECTRIQUE PHOTOVOLTAIQUE

SOLEIL

SOLAIRE PASSIF

UTILISATION DIRECTE DES RAYONNEMENTS SOLAIRES

SOLAIRE THERMIQUE

CHAUFFE EAU SOLAIRE CUISINIERE SOLAIRE SECHOIR SOLAIRE

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PRODUCTION DE VAPEUR DEAU

CENTRALE ELECTRIQUE THERMODYNAMIQUE

CLIMATISATION SOLAIRE CHAUFFAGE DES BATIMENTS

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Utilisations directes de lnergie thermique solaire Utilisations indirectes de lnergie thermique solaire (production de vapeur pour lentranement dun alternateur grce une turbine vapeur

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Got Sun?

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Solar Energy Has Great Potential

80,000 Terawatts of Solar Power fall on the Earth constantly

Compare to 14.5 Terawatts current human power use

Every country has it No one can embargo it or raise the price As an alternative to fossil fuels, solar energy reduces air and water pollution and global warming

Its becoming more and more cost effective, especially

when you include these external costs
Already the best value in remote areas
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What is a solar cell?

Solid state device that converts incident

solar energy directly into electrical energy

Efficiencies from a few percent up to 20-30% No moving parts No noise Lifetimes of 20-30 years or more
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Cross Section of Solar Cell

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How Does It Work?

The junction of dissimilar materials (n and p type

silicon) creates a voltage Energy from sunlight knocks out electrons, creating

a electron and a hole in the junction

Connecting both sides to an external circuit causes current to flow

In essence, sunlight on a solar cell creates a small

battery with voltages typically 0.5 V. DC
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Available Cell Technologies

Single-crystal or Mono-crystalline Silicon
Polycrystalline or Multi-crystalline Silicon Thin film Amorphous silicon

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Monocrystalline Silicon Modules

Most efficient

commercially available module (11% - 15%) Most expensive to produce Circular (square-round) cell creates wasted space on module

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Polycrystalline Silicon Modules

Less expensive to make

than single crystalline modules Cells slightly less efficient than a single crystalline (10% - 12%) Square shape cells fit into module efficiently using the entire space
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Amorphous Thin Film

Most inexpensive

technology to produce Metal grid replaced with transparent oxides Efficiency = 6 8 % Can be deposited on flexible substrates Less susceptible to shading problems Better performance in low light conditions that with crystalline modules

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Photovoltaic terminology: Cell to Array

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Photovoltaic therminology

Solar cells (0.5V) (0.3 - 2 watt)

Modules (10-300 Watt)

Array (largest area > 5 MW)

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Standard Test Conditions (STC)

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Current-Voltage (I-V) Curve

(Short circuit current) Maximum Power

(Vco: Open circuit voltage)

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Terminology

Isc: Short circuit current, maximum current a module can produce under given conditions (V= 0; P=0) Voc: Open circuit voltage, maximum voltage under given conditions (Isc = 0; P= 0) Imp: Current that results in maximum power under given condition (V= Vmp; P = Pmp) Vmp: Voltage that results in maximum power under given condition (I= Imp; P = Pmp) Pmp = Imp x Vmp

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Effects of irradiance
As insolation decreases: Current decreases Voltage drops slowly

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Effects of irradiance
Isc is directly proportional to irradiance

Example: The module MSX-83 from BP Solar has a rated Isc of 5.27 A at STC. What will be the Isc at 800 W/m? - STC irradiance is 1000 W/m = G1 - G2 = 800 W/m - ISC1 = 5.27A - ISC2 = ?
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Effects of irradiance

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Effects of Temperature
As the PV cell temperature increases:

The current increases slightly The voltage decreases, the change of voltage is directly proportional to temperature rise

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Effects of temperature

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Effects of temperature
Voltage change

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Effects of temperature
Voltage change example 1 :The module SM55 from
Siemens has at STC Vmp of 17.3 V. If the module operates outdoor and heat up to 50C, the Vmp at 50C will be: V(50C) = - 0.079 V/ C x (50 - 25) = - 1.975 V Vmp (50C) = 17.3 - 1.97 = 15.325V

15.325 V is still enough to fully charge a typical "12 volt" battery that actually needs up to 15 volts to reach full charge.
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Effects of temperature
Voltage change example 2: The module POLY 175 from SCHOTT Solar has at STC Vmp of 44.3 V. Find out the Voc at 50C.

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Effect of temperature
Power change

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Effects of temperature
Power change Example 1: The module SM55 from Siemens has at STC Pmax of 55 W. If the module operates outdoor and heat up to 50C, the Pmax at 50C will be:
Power change P(50C) = - 0.255 W/ C x (50 - 25) = - 6.375W Pmax (50C) = 55 - 6.375 = 48.625 W
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Effects of temperature
Power change Example 1 : The module POLY 175 from SCHOTT Solar has at STC Pmax of 175 W. Find out the Pmax at 50C.

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Orientation and Tilt Angle

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Site Selection Tilt Angle

Best annual performance: Orientation: South Tilt angle : Latitude of the site Azimuth: South : 0 North : 180

Max performance is achieved when panels are perpendicular to the suns rays

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Part 3: Modules connection

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Part 3 Learning Objectives

List the characteristics of series circuits
List the characteristics of parallel circuits List the characteristics of series/parallel circuits (mix-

circuits)
Understand the shading effects on modules

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Series Connections
Principle

Loads/sources wired in series

VOLTAGES ARE ADDITIVE CURRENT IS EQUAL One interconnection wire is used

between two components (negative connects with positive) Combined modules make series string Leave the series string from a terminal not used in the series connection
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Series Connections:
Electrical circuit

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Series Connections:
Curve I(V)

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Parallel Connections
Principle

Loads/sources wired in parallel: VOLTAGE REMAINS CONSTANT CURRENTS ARE ADDITIVE Two interconnection wires are used between two components (positive to positive and negative to negative) Leave off of either terminal Modules exiting to next component can happen at any parallel terminal

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Parallel Connections
Electrical circuit

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Parallel Connections
Curve I(V)

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Series/Parallel Connections

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Series/Parallel Connections

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Series/Parallel Connections
The module MSX-83 from BP solar is used in the following configuration to make a PV array: 4 modules in series 2 strings (of 4 modules in series) in parallel
The electric characteristics at STC are given below: Maximum power (Pmax) = 83W Short-circuit current (Isc) = 5.27A Voltage at Pmax (Vmp) = 17.1V Open-circuit voltage (Voc) = 21.2V Current at Pmax (Imp) = 4.85A What will be the electric characteristics of the PV array?
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 Ns = 4 VTmp =17.1V x 4 = 68.4 V and VTOC = 21.2Vx4

= 84.8V Np = 2 ITmp = 4.85A x 2 = 9.70A and ITSC = 5.27A x 2 = 10.54A PTmax = VTmp X ITmp = 68.4 x 9.70 = 663.48 W PTmax = Pmax X 8 = 83 x 8 = 664 W

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Series/Parallel Connections
For PV array, the electric characteristics are: Maximum power (Pmax) = 664W Short-circuit current (Isc) = 10.54A Voltage at Pmax (Vmp) = 68.4V Open-circuit voltage (Voc) = 84.8V Current at Pmax (Imp = 9.70A.

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Series/Parallel Connections

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Quiz Time
If you have 4 module of 12V / 3A in an array what would the power output be if that array were wired in series?
What if it were wired in parallel?

Is it possible to have a configuration that would produce 24 V / 6 A? Why?

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Dissimilar modules in series

Voltage remains additive
If module A is 30V / 6A and module B is 15V / 3A the

resulting voltage will be?

Current taken on the lowest value

For modules A and B wired in series what would be

the current level of the array?

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Dissimilar Modules in Parallel

Amperage remains additive
For the same modules A and B what would the voltage

be?

Voltage takes on the lower value.

What would the voltage level of A and B wired in

parallel be?

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Shading on Modules
Depends on orientation of internal module circuitry relative to the orientation of the shading.
SHADING can half

or even completely eliminate the output of a solar array!

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Part 4: Photovoltaic System

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Part 4: Learning Objectives

Understand the functions of PV components Identify different system types

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Direct coupled system

No storage (batteries) Needs MPPT to maximize the energy feed par the PV generator Operates only during sunlight hours Better for water pumping, refrigeration system
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Standalone system

Battery stores DC energy Charger/Controller senses battery voltage and regulates charging Inverter converts direct current (DC ) energy to alternating current (AC) energy Loads anything that consumes energy

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Hybrid System DC Bus

Diesel generator cannot supply the load directly

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Hybrid System AC Bus

Flexible system with modular components PV and Diesel Generator can work simultaneously Battery to increase the availability of energy
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Grid-Tied System
(Without Batteries)

Complexity
Low: Easy to install

(less components) Grid Interaction Grid can supplement power No power when grid goes down

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Part 5: BATTERIES

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Part 4: Learning Objectives

Battery basics Battery functions

Types of batteries
Charging/discharging Depth of discharge

Battery safety

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Batteries in Series and Parallel

Series connections
Builds voltage

Parallel connections
Builds amp-hour capacity

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Battery Basics
The Terms: Battery
A device that stores electrical energy (chemical energy to electrical

energy and vice-versa)

Capacity
Amount of electrical energy the battery will contain

State of Charge (SOC)

Available battery capacity

Depth of Discharge (DOD)

Energy taken out of the battery

Efficiency
Energy out/Energy in (typically 80-85%)
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Functions of a Battery
Storage for the night Storage during cloudy weather Portable power Surge for starting motors
**Due to the expense and inherit inefficiencies of batteries it is recommended that they only be used when absolutely necessary (i.e. in remote locations or as battery backup for grid-tied applications if power failures are common/lengthy)

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Batteries: The Details

Types: Primary (single use) Secondary (recharged) Shallow Cycle (20% DOD) Deep Cycle (50-80% DOD)
Charging/Discharging:

Unless lead-acid batteries are charged up to 100%, they will loose capacity over time Batteries should be equalized on a regular basis
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Rate of Charge or Discharge

Rate = C/T C = Batterys rated capacity (Amp-hours) T = The cycle time period (hours)
Maximum recommend charge/discharge rate = C/3 to C/5

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Cycle Life vs. Depth of Discharge

# of Cycles

Depth Of Discharge (DOD) %

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Part 6: Controllers and inverters

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Part 5: Learning Objectives

Controller basics
Controller features

Inverter basics
Specifying an inverter

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Controller Basics
Function:
To protect batteries from being overcharged

Features:
Maximum Power Point

Tracking

Tracks the peak power point of the array (can improve power production by 20%)!!

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Additional Controller Features

Voltage Stepdown Controller: compensates for differing

voltages between array and batteries (ex. 48V array charging 12V battery) By using a higher voltage array, smaller wire can be used from the array to the batteries Temperature Compensation: adjusts the charging of batteries according to ambient temperature

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Other Controller Considerations

When specifying a controller you must consider:
DC input and output voltage Input and output current Any optional features you need

Controller redundancy: On a stand-alone system it might

be desirable to have more then one controller per array in the event of a failure

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Inverter Basics
Function:

An electronic device used to convert direct current

(DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity

Drawbacks:

Efficiency penalty Complexity (read: a component which can fail) Cost!!

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Specifying an Inverter
What type of system are you designing?

Stand-alone Stand-alone with back-up source (generator) Grid-Tied (without batteries) Grid-Tied (with battery back-up) AC Output (watts) Input voltage (based on modules and wiring) Output voltage (120V/240V residential) Input current (based on modules and wiring) Surge Capacity Efficiency Weather protection Metering/programming
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Specifics:

The sun is the primary energy source for almost all energy flows on the planet. Its time we started using it.

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