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Erin
Ndrio
3 Photovoltaic Installation Terms To Be Familiar With
3 Photovoltaic Installation Terms To Be Familiar With (150 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array at Food Bank of Northern Nevada; by
BlackRockSolar via Flickr)
Photovoltaic (PV) installation
In order to understand a photovoltaic (PV) installation and its components we must be familiar with the following
terms:
1. Standard Test Conditions (STC)
The output of a PV module is not stable it depends on irradiation, temperature etc., thus, we need fixed conditions
in order to compare them, size and design our installation. These conditions are called as standard test
conditions (STC):
a) Incident irradiance on the PV module surface: 1000W/m
Figure 1 The 4 curve of a PV module proportionally to irradiance
We consider that the output power of the module is the point of the IV curve which shapes the greatest area. As
we can see the irradiance influences mostly the current.
b) Cell temperature: 25C
Figure 2 The output of a PV module proportionally to cell temperature
We consider that the output power of the modules is the point of the IV curve which shapes the greatest area. As
we notice the output voltage of a PV module depends mostly on its temperature.
c) Air Mass: 1.5
The Air Mass is the path length which light takes through the atmosphere normalized to the shortest possible path
length (that is, when the sun is directly overhead AM=1).
The Air Mass quantifies the reduction in the power of light as it passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed
by air and dust.
The Air Mass is defined as:
AM = 1 / cos()
Figure 4 Air Mass 1.5
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2. PV Modules
All the datasheets include their electrical characteristics data in STC. For instance:
El. characteristics Unit Value
Nominal output (P
mpp
) W 280
Voltage at Pmax (V
mpp
) V 36.5
Current at Pmax ( I
mpp
) A 7.7
Open circuit voltage (V
oc
) V 44.5
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3. String and Array PV Modules
Is a series electrical connectivity of PV modules. An example of string is the following:
Figure 5 A string consist of 18 PV modules
Assuming that our PV modules output at STC is: Imp 7A, Vmp 30V, 210W If we will measure at points 1 and 2 we
will find: 7A and 540V (18 PV modules X30V) and we get 3,78kW
An example of Array (parallel strings)
Figure 6 Two parallel strings each one consists of 18 PV modules
If we will measure at points 3 and 4 we will find: 14A and 540V (18 PV modules X30V) and we get 7,56kW.
Taking in to consideration the above you can understand the attached Single Line Diagram (SLD) of a 2MW plant.
Download SLD
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Erin Ndrio - Electrical & Electronic Engineer. Specialized for design, sizing and energy analysis
of a Photovoltaic installation (more than 50 PV projects of Nominal Power > 30MW). Sizing of
MV/LV components of a substation. Experienced in MV and LV operations. Expert in AutoCAD.