Chp 12:PV System Design

Question 1

When sizing an off-grid PV system, what factors influence the choice of the battery voltage?

Answer 1

For safe operation of a PV system, need to anticipate periods of cloudy weather and plan a reserve energy capacity stored in the batteries -> days of autonomy

Question 2

Why are the optimal PV module tilt angles in central Europe less than the latitude angle?

Answer 2

Central Europe = 30 to 35 celsius degrees

Question 3

Why are “equivalent sun hours” useful in PV system sizing?

Answer 3

Equivalent sun hours measure the intensity of sunlight and can help you estimate how much electricity your solar panels can produce

Question 4

a-Si:H PV modules exhibit lower losses at increased temperatures.
You are in charge of designing a 1GW solar farm in Saudi Arabia. You
get a good offer from a manufacturer of a-Si:H PV panels, who
promises you that even at 50C ambient temperature, the a-Si:H PV
panels will still possess an efficiency of 8%. The competitor is offering
high-efficiency c-Si PV modules, which will exhibit an efficiency of 16%
at the same temperature. Because it’s a desert the amount of land you
can use is unlimited. What PV technology do you choose and why?

Answer 4

Discuss with Ayushi

Question 5

Describe one way that people in a developing country might be able to
access solar electricity if they do not have the money to be able to buy
a solar home system?

Question 6

What’s the seven step plan to approach sizing PV systems?

Answer 6

1. Determine total load current and operational time
2. Add system losses
3. Determine the solar irradiation in daily equivalent sun hours (ESH)
4. Determine total solar array current requirements
5. Determine the optimum module arrangement for solar array
6. Determine battery size for recommended reserve time
7. Choose a suitable charge controller and inverter