PV Solar Technology Page 1

Msc Ret PV TECHNOLOGY COURSE

KNUST-KUMASI DISTANCE LEARNING


TUTORIAL 1

The rural community assembly located at 50 km from Tafo/Ghana got a grant for its
development and decides to use part of the grant to energize the town council. The feasibility
study show clearly that for a medium term, the solar photovoltaic is the best among others
means of electrification.

As a consultant working with the community, you have been hired to design the photovoltaic
system and give a list of all the components necessary to build the PV system with their
minimal electrical characteristic

The list of the electrical appliances that will be used is given by the table below:

Electrical appliances Quantity Time Power
Voltage
Hours Watts
Volts
1 Fluorescent compact lamp 2 12 7
12 V CC
2 Fluorescent compact lamp 2 3 11
12 V CC
3 Fluorescent compact lamp 1 1 7
12 V CC
4 Fluorescent compact lamp 6 3 11
12 V CC
5 Fluorescent compact lamp 3 3 7
12 V CC
6 Fluorescent compact lamp 4 3 11
12 V CC
7 Desktop computer 2 3 200
220V/50 HZ, PF = 0.8
8 Printer 1 2 187
220V/50HZ, PF = 0.8
9 Laptop 1 3 80
220V/50 HZ, PF = 0.8
10 Photocopy machine 1 1 350
220V/50 HZ, PF = 0.8

The modules will be installed on the rooftop of the town council. The length between the
photovoltaic array and the battery banks room is estimated at 10 m, the charge controller and
the battery bank are in the same room.

Work to be done:

1. System voltage and daily energy demand estimation
2. Capacity of the battery bank (Ah)
3. Power installed of the PV array and system configuration
4. Others components minimal electrical characteristics (charge controller, inverter,
converter, fuses etc...) if need be
5. Cable size between the PV system and the battery bank

Document to be used
a. Steca PV of grid catalogue (Charge controller, inverter, converter etc)
b. PV module from Kyocera
c. Exide Solar Battery



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PROJECT SOLVING

1. System voltage

As the PV system has AC loads, we are sure that an inverter is needed; therefore we have to
take into account its efficient. We know that the inverter efficient is between 85% to 95 % and
90% has been chosen for this pre-sizing. For the DC loads, before choosing the system
voltage we will assume that the system voltage is the same as the DC loads voltage, so none
converter is needed. The pre-power balance is below:

Table 1
Electrical appliances Quantity
Time Power Voltage
Rectified
power

Hours/day Watts Volts Watts
1 Fluorescent compact lamp 2 12 7 12 V DC
15.40
2 Fluorescent compact lamp 2 3 11 12 V DC
24.20
3 Fluorescent compact lamp 1 1 7 12 V DC
7.70
4 Fluorescent compact lamp 6 3 11 12 V DC
72.60
5 Fluorescent compact lamp 3 3 7 12 V DC
23.10
6 Fluorescent compact lamp 4 3 11 12 V DC
48.40
DC total power 191.40
7 Desktop computer 2 3 200 220V/50 HZ
444.44
8 Printer 2 1 187 220V/50HZ
415.56
9 Laptop 1 3 80 220V/50 HZ
88.89
10 Photocopy machine 1 1 350 220V/50 HZ
388.89
AC total power 1 337.78
Total power of the system 1 529.18

The total power which is 1529 W is between 500 W and 2000 W, therefore the system voltage
is 24 V. As DC loads voltage is 12 V and the system voltage is 24 V a set-down converter is
needed to convert 24 V to 12 V. Therefore we have to take into account the converter efficient
which typically 85%. The new power balance is given below:

Table 2
Electrical appliances Quantity
Time Power Voltage
Rectified
power

Hours/day Watts Volts
Watts
1
Fluorescent compact
lamp
2 12 7 12 V DC
18.12
2
Fluorescent compact
lamp
2 3 11 12 V DC
28.47
3
Fluorescent compact
lamp
1 1 7 12 V DC
9.06
4 Fluorescent compact 6 3 11 12 V DC
85.41
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lamp
5
Fluorescent compact
lamp
3 3 7 12 V DC
27.18
6
Fluorescent compact
lamp
4 3 11 12 V DC
56.94
DC total power 225.18
7 Desktop computer 2 3 200
220V/50
HZ
444.44
8 Printer 2 1 187 220V/50HZ
415.56
9 Laptop 1 3 80
220V/50
HZ
88.89
10 Photocopy machine 1 1 350
220V/50
HZ
388.89
AC total power 1 337.78
Total power of the system 1 562.95

Remark: The overall power (1563 W) is still less than 2000 W, the system voltage remains
24V.

2. Synoptic diagram


3. Converter sizing

The downstream power (S2) of the converter is 191.40 W given by Table 1. The nominal
power of the converter must be at least equal to 191.40 x 1.1 = 210.54 W. The selection of the
converter on any manufacturer document must take into account not only the downstream
power x 1.1 but also the Input voltage and the Output voltage. In our case and using the
Steca PV off grid EN document, the following converter has been chosen (see table 3 taken
from page 27 of the same document):
Type: MDCI 360
Nominal power: 360 W
Input voltage: 2035 V
Ouput voltage: 12.5 V/24V
Output current : 30A/15A
Efficiency : 85%







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Table 3


4. Inverter sizing

We need firstly to converter the loads power given in Watt (W) to Volt-Amper (VA) by
dividing the active power (W) by the power factor.

S2 (VA) = Power (W)/Power factor


Electrical appliances Quantity
Power
Power
factor
Power

Watts V.A
7 Desktop computer 2 200 0.8
500
8 Printer 2 187 0.8
467.5
9 Laptop 1 80 0.8
100
10 Photocopy machine 1 350 0.8
437.5

1505
Nominal power (VA) Power estimated (VA) *1.1
Surge power (VA) Power estimated (VA) x 2 (no motor in the system)
Therefore,

Nominal power (VA) = 1505x1.1 = 1656 VA
Surge power (VA) 1505 x 2 = 3010 VA
The Steca document gives us the following inverter which fulfills all the requirements (see
table 4 taken from page Steca):
Type: 2400-24
System voltage (input): 24 V
Continuous power: 2000 VA
Power 5 sec (surge power): 5200VA
Output voltage: 230 V
Voltage signal: True sine wave (it is very important, some loads work only with the
true sine wave signal)
Output frequency: 50 Hz
Max efficiency: 94%



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Table 4


5. Daily energy demand

The converter and inverter have already been chosen. Their efficiency is respectively 85%
and 94%. The rectified powers take into account the converter and inverter efficiency. The
energy demand is given on table 5:

Table 5
Electrical appliances Quantity
Time Power Voltage
Rectified
power
Daily
energy

Hours/day Watts Volts
Watts Wh
1 Fluorescent compact lamp 2 12 7 12 V DC
18.12 217.41
2 Fluorescent compact lamp 2 3 11 12 V DC
28.47 85.41
3 Fluorescent compact lamp 1 1 7 12 V DC
9.06 9.06
4 Fluorescent compact lamp 6 3 11 12 V DC
85.41 256.24
5 Fluorescent compact lamp 3 3 7 12 V DC
27.18 81.53
6 Fluorescent compact lamp 4 3 11 12 V DC
56.94 170.82
DC consumption
225.18 820.47
7 Desktop computer 2 3 200 220V/50 HZ
425.53 1 276.60
8 Printer 2 1 187 220V/50HZ
397.87 397.87
9 Laptop 1 3 80 220V/50 HZ
85.11 255.32
10 Photocopy machine 1 1 350 220V/50 HZ
372.34 372.34
AC consumption
1 280.85 2 557.92
Total consumption 1 506.03 3 378.39

The total daily consumption is equal to 3,378 Wh, we increase the value about 10% in order to take
into account the inaccuracy of the calculation. So, the daily energy demand is estimated to be:
3,78x1.1 = 3,716 Wh.

6. Battery bank sizing

We need for the calculation:
The daily energy demand: 3,716 Wh
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The system voltage: 24 V

For an example, we choose a battery with the following characteristics (see Table 6 taken from Exide
Solar battery
Type :OPzS Solar 420
Discharge time (h): 48
Battery voltage: 6V
Capacity (C48): 296Ah
We assume that:
Battery efficiency = 80%
DOD = 50 %
Number of days autonomy: 2

Table 6:



Battery capacity = (3,716 x2)/(24x0.8x0.5) = 774.21 Ah
Number of battery in a string: 24/6 = 4
Number of string = 774.21/296 =2.61. The number has been rounded to 3.
Number of batteries = 4x3 = 12 batteries of 6V OPzS Solar C48
The capacity installed is 296x3 = 888 Ah

7. PV array sizing

We need firstly the solar radiation each month; you get by using RetScreen tools.
Table 7

Daily solar radiation -
horizontal
Daily solar
radiation - tilted
Month kWh/m/d kWh/m/d
January 3.82 3.99
February 4.04 4.15
March 4.45 4.47
April 4.74 4.64
May 4.52 4.34
June 3.91 3.73
July 3.44 3.32
August 3.33 3.26
September 3.61 3.59
October 4.16 4.24
November 4.45 4.66
December 3.79 3.99
Annual 4.02 4.03

The worst month is August with 3.26 kWh/m/d solar radiation on the tilted surface. It will be used for
the sizing.

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The PV generator must at least have a power installed of:

PV array = 3,716/ (3.26x0.8x0.8) =1,781 Wp

The modules from KYOCERA type KD 70 SX-1P has a peak power of 70 W at STC and the voltage
at Pmpp is 17.9 V wich is for 12 V application.

Number of modules in a string: 24/12 = 2
Number of strings: 1,781/(70x2) = 13.
We remember that the number of strings is equal to: (PVarray)/(Pmax for one module x number of
modules in a string)
Total number of modules of 70 Wp = 2x13 = 26
The total power installed is: 26 x70 = 1,820 Wp

8. Charge controller

The charge controller Nominal current must be greater than Max (Current of the PV generator; Load
max current)
PV generator current = Current for one string x number of string
o Current for one string = 4.3A (see Kyocera document)
o Number of strings = 13
o PV generator current = 4.3 x 13 = 55.9 A

Max Load current = DC loads power (table 5)/System voltage + AC loads power (table 5)/
System voltage
o DC loads current = 225.18/24 = 9.38 A
o AC loads current = 1 280.85/24 = 53.37 A
o Max loads current = 9.38+53.37 = 62.74 A

The Max loads current is greater than the PV generator current, the controller must have at least a
nominal current of 62.74 A. The controller must fulfill the following requirements:
Load current 62.74 A
System voltage = 24 V
Open circuit voltages solar module (string): 22.1 x 2 44.2 V

The Steca document gives us the following charge controller which fulfills all the
requirements (see table 8 taken from page 16 Steca):
Name: Steca power Tarom
Type: 2070
System voltage = 24 V
Open circuit voltage solar module (string) = 50 V
Modules current (PV generator) = 70A
Load current = 70 A

9. Size of the cable between the PV generator and the battery bank

The first thing is to choose the fuse size and it must fulfil the following requirement:
1.5 x Isc x Nsp Fuse size (A) 2 x Isc x Nsp
1.5 x 4.3x13 Fuse size (A) 2 x 4.3 x13
83.85A Fuse size (A) 111.8A,

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Thermal size of the cable

We can see that on the previous figure, the fuse with a size of 100 A fulfils the requirement. Therefore,
the thermal size of the cable (copper) according to the table below is 50 mm



Size of the cable to avoid voltage losses

The minimal cable section at the voltage drop limit is given by the following formula:



..
..
39.72 mm

Finally the cable size is 50 mm (the thermal size (50 mm) is greater than the voltage losses size)