A

Seminar report
on
SOLAR POWER SYSTEM DESIGN
A REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENTS OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF

Bachelor of Engineering
IN
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

GUIDIED BY SUBMITTED BY
Prof. Avdhesh Sharma Rajesh Adwani
Roll No.- 16EEL34042

Department of Electrical Engineering

M.B.M. Engineering College
J.N.V. University, Jodhpur
2018-19

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 DECLARATION
This is to declare that the seminar report Entitled “Solar power system design"
is submitted for the partial fulfilment of the requirements of degree of Bachelor
of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Electrical Engineering department,
M.B.M. Engineering College, Jai Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur and is a record
of the seminar work i carried out by me under supervision of Dr. Avdhesh
Sharma. To the best of my knowledge, this seminar report has not been
submitted earlier for the award of any degree/diploma by me or any other
student.

Countersigned GUIDED BY:

(Dr. Jayashri Vajpai) (Dr. Avdhesh Sharma)

Professor and Head of Department Professor

SUBMITTED BY

(RAJESH ADWANI)

Date:

Department of Electrical Engineering

M.B.M. Engineering College
J.N.V. University, Jodhpur
2018-19
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 MBM ENGINEERING COLLEGE
JODHPUR-342001, RAJASTHAN, INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the seminar report entitled “SOLAR POWER SYSTEM
DESIGN” submitted by RAJESH ADWANI with Roll No: 16EEL34042 is a record
of Bonafede work carried out by him in partial fulfilment of the requirement for
the award of the degree of “BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING”.

Prof.(Dr.) Avdhesh Sharma Dr. JAYASHRI VAJPAI

(Faculty Supervisor) (Head Of Department)

Date: 09/04/2019
Place: MBM, JODHPUR

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my guide Prof.(Dr.) Avdhesh Sharma

for initiating me in to this very interesting topic and providing me with the
guidance and know-how necessary for completing this seminar.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our HOD, Prof. JAYASHRI VAJPAI
Electrical Engineering Department for providing all the facilities required for our
studies. I also wish to express my gratitude to the entire lab technician, for
providing all possible help for my seminar work. I wish to express my gratitude
to all the faculty members of our department for their continuous support and
encouragement. Finally, I would like to thank all my friends for their continuous
love and support.

DATE: RAJESH ADWANI

PLACE: (B.E FINAL YEAR)

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 Abstract
Solar energy has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years due to
both technological improvements resulting in cost reductions and
government policies supportive of renewable energy development and
utilization. This study analyses the technical, economic and policy aspects
of solar energy development and deployment. While the cost of solar
energy has declined rapidly in the recent past, it still remains much higher
than the cost of conventional energy technologies.

In this chapters we covered the basic concepts of solar power system

design, reviewed various system configurations, and outlined all major
system equipment and materials required to implement a solar power
design. In this chapters the reader will become acquainted with a number
of solar power installations that have been implemented throughout the
report.

This seminar discusses practical steps that may be taken in the design
and installation of efficient off-grid solar power system for homes, as a
way of reducing, if not ending, the lingering National Energy Crises.

This seminar also discussing about the design algorithm of 5MW grid
connected solar power generation scheme.

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TABLE OF CONTENT page no.
DECLERATION 2
CERTIFICATE 3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4
ABSTRACT 5
TABLE OF CONTENT 6
LIST OF FIGURES 7

CHAPTERS
CHAPTER: -1 INTRODUCTION 8

1.1 GENERAL CONTEXT

1.2 OBJECTIVES
1.3 THE POWER OF SUN

CHAPTER: -2 LITERATURE SURVEY 10

CHAPTER: -3 SOLAR POWER SYSTEM 12

3.1 SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM

3.2 SOLAR RESOURCES
3.3 BENEFITS OF GRID CONNECTED POWER
SYSTEM
3.4 LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN SOLAR POWER
GENERATION

CHAPTER: -4 SOLAR POWER SYSTEM DESIGN 22

4.1 DESIGN COFIGURATIONS

4.2 DESIGN ALGORITHM

CHAPTER: -5 EXAMPLE: 25

5.1 5MW GRID CONNECTED

5.2 1KW STAND ALONE

CHAPTER: -6 CONCLUSION 40

REFERENCE 41

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LIST OF FIGURES PAGE NO.

Fig.3.1 Basic solar energy conversion system 12

Fig.3.2 Concentrated solar power 13

Fig.3.3 Solar photovoltaic technology 14

Fig.3.4 Areas of the world with high insolation 15

Fig.3.5 Insolation vs time curve 16

Fig.4.1 Spv power generating units 23

Fig.5.1 5MW spv power generation scheme 29

Fig.5.2 Line diagram of 5MW grid connected system 30

Fig.5.3 Solar array in series/parallel connection 34

Fig.5.4 Solar array in series/parallel connection 35

Fig.5.5 Pv installation/angle of tilt 37

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 CHAPTER: -1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL CONTEXT
Essential steps required for solar power systems engineering design
include site evaluation, feasibility study, site shading analysis,
photovoltaic mapping or configuration analysis, dc-to-ac power
conversion calculations, PV module and inverter system selection, and
total solar power array electric power calculations. In previous chapters
we reviewed the physics, manufacturing technologies, and design
considerations applied to photovoltaic solar power cogeneration Perhaps
the most important task of a solar power engineer is to conduct preliminary
engineering and financial feasibility studies, which are necessary for
establishing an actual project design. The essence of the feasibility study
is to evaluate and estimate the power generation and cost of installation
for the life span of the project. building block of the photovoltaic
technology. Solar cells are made of semiconductor materials, such as
silicon. One of the properties of semiconductors that makes them most
useful is that their conductivity may easily be modified by introducing
impurities into their crystal lattice. Photovoltaics’ offer consumers the
ability to generate electricity in a clean, quiet and reliable way.
Photovoltaic systems are comprised of photovoltaic cells, devices that
convert light energy directly into electricity. It is anticipated that
photovoltaic systems will experience an enormous increase in the
decades to come. However, a successful integration of solar energy
technologies into the existing energy structure depends also on a detailed
knowledge of the solar resource. But to note it is essential to state the
amount of literature on solar energy, the solar energy system and PV grid
connected system is enormous. Grid interconnection of photovoltaic (PV)
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power generation system has the advantage of more effective utilization
of generated power.

1.2 OBJECTIVES
1. To understand how solar power system work.
2. Know about the solar power generation technology.
3. Know about the design steps for designing a solar power system.
4. Establishment of a solar power system that can supply 1kw power.
5. Design of a 5MW SPV Power Generation scheme

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 CHAPTER: -2

LITERATURE SURVEY:
M. Egidio, and E. Lorenzo [3]: This report examines the literature
associated with the design and optimization of photovoltaic (PV) solar
energy in an attempt to identify the different ways in which PV cells was
used in small domesticated establishment. Preliminary as it may be, this
study stands to be a source of an invaluable promotion on renewable
energy-solar resources in particular. In addition, this thesis presents study
on sizing and cost estimation methodology for stand-alone photovoltaic
(SAPV) power system to provide the required electricity. In essence,
highlighted are the technical and economic feasibility of a SAPV system
for electricity generation.

E.H. Camm, Member, IEEE S. E. Williams [6]: The development of

newer technologies in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants, particularly
plants using dish Stirling systems, as well as changes in the design of
photovoltaic (PV) inverters is creating new challenges in the design of low-
and medium-voltage collector systems for large solar power plants.
Furthermore, interconnect requirements for reactive power, voltage, and
ramp rate control and the characteristics of solar power require unique
solutions for optimal plant design. To ensure large solar plants can be
connected successfully to the grid without impacting grid stability or
reliability, the design process must include the development of suitable
models of these plants for transient and dynamic simulation. Simulation
tools and models can then be used to determine special requirements to
deal with issues such as daily plant energization, low voltage ride-through,
temporary overvoltage and feeder grounding, etc. The presentation will

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focus on the key technical issues and design optimization of large solar
power plants.

Bharath Kumar M 1and Dr. H V Bragada [2]: The favourable climate

conditions of the place called Belagavi of Mandaya district in the state of
Karnataka and the recent legislation for utilization of renewable energy
sources provide a substantial incentive for installation of photovoltaic
power plants. In this paper, the grid connected solar photovoltaic power
plant established by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited, is presented,
and its performance is evaluated. The photovoltaic power plant has a solar
radiation of 5.26 kWh/sq.mt/day spread over 25 Acres of land. The plant
has been in operation since 2012. The power plant is suitably monitored
during 7 Months, and the performance ratio and the various power losses
(temperature, soiling, internal, network, power electronics, grid availability
and interconnection) are calculated.

Obtain E.B and Momoh F.P[1]: The goal of the off-grid PV system
design is to optimize the most suitable design in order to collect all the
available solar energy to satisfy the need for the energy demand at an
economically feasible price. The purpose of this thesis paper is to provide
a rural remote commercial-purposed shelter with energy demand
throughout the whole year by designing a solar PV off-grid system on a
tilted rooftop. Also, a comprehensive overview was conducted throughout
the paper for Solar PV systems, parts, and components, the principle of
operation. The design criteria of the off-grid solar PV system were divided
into several detailed stages where each stage was conducted upon
enumerated values thoroughly.

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 CHAPTER: -3
SOLAR POWER SYSTEM:
3.1 The Solar Energy Conversion System:
There are many different types of solar energy systems that will convert
the solar resource into a useful form of energy. A block diagram showing
three of the most basic system types is shown as Figure 3.1. In the first
diagram, the solar resource is captured and converted into heat which is
then supplied to a demand for thermal energy (thermal load) such as
house heating, hot water heating or heat for industrial processes. This
type of system may or may not include thermal storage, and usually
include an auxiliary source of energy so that the demand may be met
during long periods with no sunshine.

Figure-3.1 Diagram of a basic solar energy conversion systems. The AUX.

box represents some
auxiliary source of thermal or electrical energy.

If the demand (load) to be met is electricity (an electrical load) rather than
heat, there are two common methods of converting solar energy into
electricity. One method is by collecting solar energy as heat and
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converting it into electricity using a typical power plant or engine; the other
method is by using photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy directly into
electricity. Both methods are shown schematically in Figure 3.1.
In general, if solar energy conversion systems are connected to a large
electrical transmission grid, no storage or auxiliary energy supply is
needed. If the solar energy conversion system is to be the only source of
electricity, storage and auxiliary energy supply are usually both
incorporated. If the thermal route is chosen, storage of heat rather than
electricity may be used to extend the operating time of the system.
Auxiliary energy may either be supplied either as heat before the power
conversion system, or as electricity after it. If the photovoltaic route is
chosen, extra electricity may be stored, usually in storage batteries,
thereby extending the operating time of the system. For auxiliary power,
an external electricity source is the only choice for photovoltaic systems.

Solar Energy can be trapped using two techniques:

• Solar Thermal / Concentrated
Solar Power

•
Figure-3.2 concentrated solar power[3]
•

•
•
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 • Solar Photo Voltaic Technology

Figure-3.3 solar photo voltaic[3]

3.2 The Solar Resource

The basic resource for all solar energy systems is the sun. Knowledge of
the quantity and quality of solar energy available at a specific location is
of prime importance for the design of any solar energy system. Although
the solar radiation (insolation) is relatively constant outside the earth's
atmosphere, local climate influences can cause wide variations in
available insolation on the earth’s surface from site to site. In addition, the
relative motion of the sun with respect to the earth will allow surfaces with
different orientations to intercept different amounts of solar energy.
Figure 3.4 shows regions of high insolation where solar energy conversion
systems will produce the maximum amount of energy from a specific
collector field size. However, solar energy is available over the entire
globe, and only the size of the collector field needs to be increased to
provide the same amount of heat or electricity as in the shaded areas. It
is the primary task of the solar energy system designer to determine the
amount, quality and timing of the solar energy available at the site
selected for installing a solar energy conversion
system.

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Figure 3.4 Areas of the world with high insolation[2]

Just outside the earth's atmosphere, the sun's energy is continuously

available at the rate of 1,367 Watts on every square meter facing the sun.
Due to the earth's rotation, asymmetric orbit about the sun, and the
contents of its atmosphere, a large fraction of this energy does not reach
the ground. we discuss the effects of the atmospheric processes that
modify the incoming solar energy, how it is measured, and techniques
used by designers to predict the amount of solar energy available at a
particular location, both instantaneously and over a long term.
As an example of the importance of the material discussed in shows the
variation of insolation over a full, clear day in March at Daggett, California,
a meteorological measurement site close to the Kramer Junction solar
power plant described previously. The outer curve, representing the
greatest rate of incident energy, shows the energy coming directly from
the sun (beam normal insolation) and falling on a square meter of surface
area which is pointed toward the sun. The peak rate of incident solar
energy occurs around 12:00 noon and is 1,030 Watts per square meter.
Over the full day, 10.6 kilowatt-hours of energy has fallen on every square
meter of surface area as represented by the area under this curve.

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Figure 3.5 Insolation data from Doggett, California on a clear March day.
The middle curve represents the rate of solar energy falling on a horizontal
surface at the same location. For reasons to be discussed later this curve
includes both the energy coming directly from the sun's disc, and also that
scattered by the molecules and particles in the atmosphere (total
horizontal insolation). This scattered energy is shown as the bottom curve
(diffuse insolation). Over the entire day, 6.7 kilowatt-hours of solar energy
fall on every square meter of horizontal surface, of which 0.7 kilowatt-
hours comes from all directions other than directly from the sun.
Techniques for estimating the temporal solar resource at any site on the
face of the earth are presented in Chapter 2. In addition, the development
and use of computerized meteorological data files is described. These
data files based on long-term actual observations, form the time-
dependent database of the computerized performance computations
contained within this book and, indeed, much of the solar literature. An
example of a complete set of beam normal insolation data for a given
location is shown in Figure 3.5. Here we see hourly insolation data,
summarized over a day, for each month of a year. With this type of data
for a specific site, it is possible to predict accurately the output of a solar
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energy conversion system, whether it is a low temperature thermal
system, a high temperature thermal system or a photovoltaic system.

3.3 Benefits of Grid -connected

Solar Power Plants:
1. Power from sun is clean, silent, limitless and free.
2. Photovoltaic process releases no CO2, SO2 or NO2 gases and thus
do not contribute to Global warming.
3. It has introduced the concept of Distributed Generation thus
improving the overall grid reliability.
4. Solar powered Grid Connected Plants can act as tail-end
energizers, which in turn reduces the transmission and distribution
losses.
5. Provides a potential revenue source in a diverse energy portfolio.

3.4 The Latest in Solar Technology

Solar technologies have evolved a lot since they first made their debut in
the 1960s. While previously solar photovoltaics (PV) were seen as a thing
of the future, today, technological breakthroughs have positioned the
industry for huge growth.

A series of new developments in solar PV technology also promise to

contribute to the industry's success.

Advances in Solar Cell Technology

Researchers have longed looked for ways to improve the efficiency and
cost-effectiveness of solar cells - the life blood of solar PV systems. A
solar PV array is comprised of hundreds, sometimes thousands of solar
cells, that individually convert radiant sun light into electrical currents. The
average solar cell is approximately 15% efficient, which means nearly

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85% of the sunlight that hits them does not get converted into electricity.
As such, scientists have constantly been experimenting with new
technologies to boost this light capture and conversion.

Light-Sensitive Nanoparticles. Recently, a group of scientists at

the University of Toronto unveiled a new type of light-sensitive
nanoparticle called colloidal quantum dots, that many believe will offer a
less expensive and more flexible material for solar cells. Specifically, the
new materials use n-type and p-type semiconductors - but ones that can
actually function outdoors. This is a unique discovery since previous
designs weren't capable of functioning outdoors and therefore not
practical applications for the solar market. University of Toronto
researchers discovered that n-type materials bind to oxygen - the new
colloidal quantum dots don't bind to air and therefore can maintain their
stability outside. This helps increase radiant light absorption. Panels using
this new technology were found to be up to eight percent more efficient at
converting sunlight.

Advances in Energy Storage

Another major focus of scientists is to find new ways to store energy
produced by solar PV systems. Currently, electricity is largely a "use it or
lose it" type resource whereby once it's generated by a solar PV system
(or any type of fuel source) the electricity goes onto the grid and must be
used immediately or be lost. Since the sunlight does not shine twenty-four
hours a day, this means that most solar PV systems are only meeting
electrical demands for a portion of the day - as a result, a lot of electricity
is lost, if it's not used. There are a number of batteries on the market that
can store this energy, but even the most high-tech ones are fairly
inefficient; they're also expensive and have a pretty short shelf life, making
them not the most attractive options for utility companies and consumers.

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That is why scientists are exploring different ways to store this electricity
so that it can be used on demand.

Molten Salt Storage Technology. A company called Novate Solar

recently commissioned a promising energy storage solution for solar PV
systems using a molten salt storage technology. The process uses
inorganic salts to transfer energy generated by solar PV systems into solar
thermal using heat transfer fluid rather than oils as some storage system
have. The result is that solar plants can operate at temperatures over 500
degrees Celsius, which would result in a much higher power output. This
means that costs to store solar would be lowered significantly and utility
companies could finally use solar power plants as base load plants rather
than to meet peak demand during prime daylight hours.

Solar Panel with Built-In Battery. In a project funded by the United

States Department of Energy, Ohio State University researchers recently
announced they created a battery that is 20% more efficient and 25%
cheaper than anything on the market today. The secret to the design is
that the rechargeable battery is built into the solar panel itself, rather than
operating as two standalone systems. By conjoining the two into one
system, scientists said they could lower costs by 25% compared to
existing products.

Advances in Solar Cell Manufacturing

Another area that has made solar PV technologies cost prohibitive
compared to traditional fuel sources is the manufacturing process.
Scientists are also focused on ways to improve the efficiency of how solar
components are manufactured.

Magnesium Chloride. While over ninety percent of solar panels on

the market today are comprised of silicon semiconductors, the key

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ingredient to converting sunlight into electricity, many believe the next
generation of solar panels will be made of a thin film technology that uses
narrow coatings of cadmium telluride in solar cells - this technology
promises to be a much cheaper and more efficient way to engage the
photovoltaic process. One major obstacle for cadmium telluride thin film
cells is that they become highly unstable during the manufacturing
process, which currently uses cadmium chloride. Researchers have
devised a new, safe and seemingly low-cost way to overcome this hurdle
by using a material called magnesium chloride in replace of cadmium
chloride. Magnesium chloride is recovered from seawater, an abundant
resource, which makes the resource very low cost, as well as non-toxic.
Replacing the manufacturing process with this material promises to
increase the efficiency of these solar cells from two percent to up to fifteen
percent.

New Solar Applications

When most people think of solar PV systems, they think of them atop roofs
or mounted for industrial scale use. But researchers are exploring a
number of unconventional solar applications that could promise to
transform the industry.

Solar Roadways. Scientists are exploring ways to actually line

highways and roads with solar panels that would then be used to deploy
large amounts of electricity to the grid. This would help overcome a major
barrier to industrial scale solar, which opponents say threatens to take up
too much land. Solar roadways have already popped up in the
Netherlands.

Floating Solar. Another way to address land use concerns associated

with wide scale solar is to erect solar plants on the water, since over 70%
of the Earth's surface is covered in water. Some researchers, including a
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French firm called Ciel et Terre, are experimenting with this technology.
The company has projects set up in France, Japan, and England and
other parts of the world are also piloting projects including a project in
India and California in the U.S.

Space Based Solar. Scientists are resurrecting a technology that was

first tested over forty years ago in which space-based satellites capture
sunlight and convert it into microwave energy that is then beamed back to
earth. This type of technology promises to capture significant more
amount of sunlight (nearly ninety percent) since satellites can be
positioned to optimize light capture round the clock. India, China and
Japan are investing heavily in these technologies right now.

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 CHAPTER: -4
SOLAR POWER SYSTEM DESIGN

4.1 DESIGN CONFIGURATION

The four basic design configurations of PV system are:

i.) Borehole application for water pumping: This employs line

current booster (LCB) to drive d.c pumps. It is designed for
daylight operation and so does not require batteries.
ii.) Hybrid system: A PV system is said to be hybrid if it is not the
only source of energy to the load(s). In this case, there is an
energy source (e.g utility or gen. set) in addition to the
module/array. The two energy sources complement each other.
The problem with hybrid system is economy. It costs more to
install and requires operation/maintenance personnel especially
for the auxiliary generator. However, this may be seen as the
price for higher reliability.
iii.) Grid connected: The grid-connected may be viewed as a
special type of stand- alone system. The connection of its output
to the grid makes the grid a load to the system. In its simplest
form, it consists of array, an inverter and them the gird (load).
iv.) Stand-alone (off-grid): This configuration refers to when the
system operates as the sole source of supply to its load. The
inclusion of storage in PV systems is aimed at increasing its
availability and consequently its reliability.

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Figure-4.1 SPV Power Generating units [5]

Algorithm:
1. Site Selection
2. Topographical Survey
3. Soil Test
4. Planning & Designing
5. Construction Works
6. Selection of SPV Module
• Type of Module
• Maximum Output Power
• Open Circuit voltage - Voc
• Short Circuit Current - Isc
• Voltage corresponding to MPP – VMP
• Current corresponding to MPP – Imp
7. SPV Mounting Structures
8. Junction Boxes
9. Power Conditioning Unit

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 • Inverter that changes the incoming DC received from PV
modules into AC with suitable power quality in sync with Grid
supply
• electronics for MPPT
• Synchronization and Internal Protection
• Remote monitoring.

10. LT Power Interfacing Panel

– Measuring instruments, selector switches and Mimic
diagrams
11. Computer Aided Data Acquisition System
– Measurement and continuous recording of system
parameters

12. Lightning and Over voltage Protection

13. Earthing System

Switchyard Equipment’s
1. Transformer
2. Circuit Breaker
3. Isolator and Insulators
4. Current Transformer
5. Potential Transformer
6. Protection and Metering System
7. Lightning Arrestors
8. Structures
9. Earthing System

10.AC & DC Auxiliary Supply

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 CHAPTER: -5
EXAMPLES:

1. Design of a 5 MW SPV Power Generation Scheme

Basic System Operation

1. The system automatically ‘wakes up’ in the morning.

2. Operates in a ‘Grid Interactive’ mode to export power. MPPT
techniques are utilized to optimize the generation
3. If the grid voltage or frequency goes out of operating range the
inverter will be immediately disconnected and reconnect in a pre-
determined time after the grid comes back in range.

4. When the exported power is around zero percent for a pre-

determined time the system will go into a ‘sleep’ mode. The standby
losses are less than 5% of the no load losses.
5. The Grid-connected inverter system will switch over to a low power
‘sleep’ mode at night and during periods of low insolation and
automatically ‘wake-up’ when the insolation level rises above a
preset point.

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 Algorithm:

STEP-1. Registered Capacity of Plant

= 5 MWP
i.e. (5MW X 6 hrs X 250 days)
7.5 million units (KWH) / year

STEP-2. Selection of a S.P.V Module

S.No Electrical Parameter Specification

1 Type of PV Module Poly Crystalline

2 Nominal Power Pmax 200 Wp

3 Voltage at Maximum Power Vmp 29.6 volts

4 Current at Maximum Power Imp 6.8 amps

5 Open Circuit Voltage Voc 36.0 volts

6 Short Circuit Current Isc 7.4 amps

7 Maximum System Voltage 1000 V/ DC

8 Temperature coefficient-Voc -0.074 V/ °C

9 Temperature coefficient-Isc +2.80 mA/°C

10 Solar Cells per Module 60 units

11 Parent Solar cell size 156 sq mm

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 STEP 3. Selection of Inverter

S.No Electrical Parameter Specification

1 Nominal AC Power 250 kW

2 Nominal AC Voltage 415 volts

3 Nominal AC frequency 50 Hz

4 Maximum AC line current 460 amps

5 Minimum DC voltage 450 V DC

6 Suggested PV Power 280 kWp

7 Maximum DC current 555 amps

8 Maximum open circuit voltage 880 volts

9 Power tracking window range 450-800 V DC

10 Inverter Efficiency 95%

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 STEP 4. System Configuration
(i) Number of SPV Modules connected in series as one string = 16
(ii) Required Plant Output = 5.35 MW
(iii) Total Number of Modules Required = 26750
(iv) Number of Strings connected in parallel should be = 1672
(v) Each String to provide power to 250 KW capacity inverter
Number of inverters proposed = 21
(vi) Number of strings per inverter = 80
(vii) Therefore, actually total number of strings connected in parallel =
1680
(viii) Actually, total number of SPV modules of 200Wp used = 26,880
(ix) Total PV Array Capacity = 5376 KW

STEP 5 Selection of Transformer

STEP 6. Selection of Circuit Breaker
STEP 7. Selection of Current Transformer
STEP 8. Selection of Potential Transformer

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Figure-5.1 5MW SPV POWER GENERATION SCEHME [6]

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Figure-5.2 POWER LINE DIAGRAM [6]

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2. Design and analysis of a 1KW off-grid (stand alone) Solar
Power System for a three bed-room
Bungalow:
Major points to note when designing Solar System:
i). The load put on the system is not constant over the period of one day.
ii). The daily load varies over the year.
iii). The energy available from the source (the sun) will vary from day to
day, and from time to time, during the year.

For the photovoltaic system, a comparison must be made between the

total energy demand per day and the available energy from the sun per
day. The designed load is the total power requirement of the connected
equipment per day in watt-hour; while the demand, the total Amp-hours
needed from the battery(s) per day and possibly, days of autonomy.

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Stand-Alone Solar Generator Components:
i). Solar Array
ii). Array Combiner
iii). Solar regulator/Charge Controller
iv). Storage Deep Cycle Batteries
v) d,c Load Equipment
vi). d.c/a.c Inverter
vii). A.c Load Equipment

Solar Power Components Sizing:

The high cost of installing solar systems and the requirement of reliability
makes it necessary to carry out what is referred to as Sizing; this is with
the aim of determining the rating of the components of the solar generator
needed to supply the designed load for the designed period. A major
factor is the degree of solar energy reaching the generators (PV modules)
with output at 12 or 24 Volts. The first step in system sizing is to estimate
the load to be placed on the system.

i.) Sizing Battery:

From the demand/Load analysis in table-1,
Energy Demand per Day (Wh) 9,980
Total Charge Demand per Day (Ah) = --------------------------------------- = ---
-----
System Voltage (V) 24
= 415.83Ah. --------------------------------------------------- (1)

Daily Charge Demand (Ah) x Days of Autonomy (Tau)

Battery Bank Capacity, Cx, = ---------------------------------------------------------
---------
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Max. Dept of Discharge (DODmax)
Thus, if an autonomy of 3 days and depth of discharge (DODmax) of 70%
is considered, then
max
415.83 3 1,782.13
0.70
tot aut
x
dc
C E T Ah
V DOD
´
=´==
-------------------------------- (2)

System autonomy (Taut) is the maximum number of days that the

batteries can supply the daily demand, without recharging.
If a battery rating of 200Ah/12V is selected, then number of 200Ah/12V
batteries to be connected in
series/parallel 1,782.13 8.911
200
= = Batteries
------------------------------------------------------------- (3)
Thus, the appropriate number of batteries for this load is 10 (200Ah/12V),
in series/parallel connection, as shown in Fig.5.3

P a g e 33 | 41
Battery Bank Charge and Discharge Rate

Figure-5.3 series/parallel connection[1]

For Battery Bank Capacity of 1,782.13Ah, the rate of discharge will be

given, from expressions (2)
and (4), as

This result gives the time, in terms of number of hours, that the battery
bank can support the load for autonomous days.
By the result in expression (5), the battery bank must first be charged for
a minimum of 40hours before any load is connected. This initial charge is
important for best performance of the battery bank throughout its life,
which is an average of 15 years.

ii) PV Array Sizing:

- Total energy required per day (from table) is 9,980 Watt-hour

P a g e 34 | 41
- Select P.V module of desired rating (e.g. a 130W/12V panel – (Note: 130
Watts is the output of the panel working at 100% efficiency).
- Assuming a panel efficiency of 80%, then Panel output will be 0.8 x 130
= 104Watts. And for an average of 8hrs of shine/irradiation per day, the
total energy output per Panel becomes:
104 x 8 = 832 Watt-hours
Let 10% of daily demand account for losses due to inverter, cabling and
at terminals.
This gives 0.1 x 9,980 = 998 watt-hour.
Thus, total demand per day will now become
9,980 + 998 = 10,978 Watt-hours

Thus, to supply 10,978 Watt-hour of energy to support period of

autonomy, 14 panels, each of 130W/12V rating, are required; and will be
connected in series/parallel, as shown in Fig. 04 below.

Figure-5.4 solar array in series/parallel connection[1]

The following are the key technical data of the Solar Panel, with a +/- 5%
variance:
Type: BLD130 – 36p, Cell Technology – Poly-Si
Peak Power Pmax -------------- 130Watts

P a g e 35 | 41
Peak Voltage Vmp --------------- 17.5V
Peak Current Imax --------------- 7.45A
Open-Circuit Voltage ----------- 21.6Voc
Short-Circuit Current ----------- 8.08A
Normal Operating Temperature -----450c +/- 20c

Location of System, and Angle of Tilt:

Solar power system design must take into cognizance the peculiarity and
the realities of the local environment where the power system is to be
installed. And the size of the system will depend on the amount of power
required (in watts ), the length of time it is to be put to use per day and the
amount of energy available from the sun per day in the particular area or
location where the system is required.
Therefore, for best result, the geographical data of the area must be
known .e.g the latitude or the location in degree in relation to the equator
and at least one year data of sun irradiation and weather condition of the
area. The best angle to tilt solar panels towards the equator is the angle
of the Latitude of the location. That is, if the latitude of the location is a
positive value, i.e Northern hemisphere, orientate the panels south. In the
tropics, the angle can in fact be 10 degrees to either side of this optimum
P a g e 36 | 41
setting without losing much power or efficiency from your panels [10], as
illustrated in Fig. 5.5. By this, the sun energy will be hitting the PV panels
at the best angle of maximum solar energy reception, which is 900. The
sun is known to move along the equator trajectory.

Figure-5.5 pv installation/angle of tilt [1]

System Wiring and Installation:

Wiring becomes very complex if there are d.c and a.c circuits/loads.
Generally, the simplest procedure is to provide a.c power from an inverter
(Fig. 02) and run the whole house using a.c. This however, results in a
much larger load on the system due to inefficiencies in the inverter and
the battery. Inverters are only about 80% efficient.
D.c and a.c circuits must be isolated physically from each other, and
polarized 2 pin plugs must be used for d.c wiring, not 3 pin 240 volt plugs
and sockets. Cables have their current carrying capacity (CCC). And since
current in d.c lines is quite always higher, cables must be correctly sized
so that:
- There are not excessive line losses (voltage drops)
- The maximum current rating of any cable is not exceeded.
For example, 220V a.c, 100 Watts load takes 0.455 Amps; and a 100-
Watt load running on 12Vd.c takes 8.33 Amps. Generally, cable losses
(ac or dc) are not allowed to be more than 5%. Line losses or voltage
drops depend on:
- cable cross-sectional area (mm2)
- cable length, and

P a g e 37 | 41
- current flow in the wire.

where: ρ, is resistivity of copper wire (in ohm/m/mm2 = 0.0183)

L, is cable run Length (in m)
I, is current (in A)
A, is cross-sectional area of cable (in mm2)
Excessively long wire runs will result in loss of voltage and power to the
equipment/load and lower efficiency. Inductive loads, such as motors, are
particularly sensitive to voltage drops. When they run on voltage levels
less than their rated values, they tend to overheat Main battery cables are
often supplied by the inverter manufacturer. They must not be extended.
Their diameters have been carefully selected to minimize voltage drop
between the batteries and the inverter. If longer cables are necessary, fit
new, larger size cables. Cables from the solar array to the batteries should
be selected so that the voltage drop between the array and the batteries
is less than 5% of the system voltage. Cables are specified in terms of the
cross-section (mm2), the type of insulation and the environment in which
it to be installed. Cables with an insufficient current carrying capacity
rating (CCC) for the currents they carry will overheat, and this will lead to
the degradation of their insulation and them eventual failure. The size of
the circuit protection selected is dependent on the CCC of the cable; and
though it can be smaller than that of the cable, but is never larger.
Whenever possible, PV panels should be installed lower than the highest
point of a building. If a mounting frame is used and become the highest
point, then in this case, lightning protection may be desirable. Earthing or
P a g e 38 | 41
grounding should be by very thick cable and earth rod should be 1.5m
long.
In PV installation, the batteries must first be connected to the controller,
the PV panels and then the load. Protection against reverse voltages, due
to wrong connection or thunder strike, is achieved by connecting a bypass
diode across the PV array as shown in Fig. 5.6. This protection also
minimizes damage from hot spots as a result of defective cells.

P a g e 39 | 41
 CHAPTER: -6

Conclusion

1. The fast diminishing world reserves of fossil fuels, increasing

demands for energy and the environmental hazards have leads us
to harness freely available energy from the sun

2. Solar Photo voltaic is a technology for generating electrical energy

directly from sunlight using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic
modules. The DC power produced by solar PV array is converted to
alternating current (AC) power by the PCU and exported to utility
power grid through step up transformer with suitable electrical
monitoring and metering system.

3. Power conditioning and Quality control is to be ensured for smooth

operation of a SPV power plant in a Grid-interactive mode. The
Power Conditioning Units consisting of inverter and other
electronics for MPPT, Synchronization and remote monitoring is
employed. CPD’s like STATCOM, DVR, UPQC are proved to be
capable of mitigating multiple PQ problems.

4. A 5 MW SPV Power Plant is designed. SPV Modules, Inverter,

Transformer, Protective Relays and other switchyard equipment’s of
appropriate specifications are selected. An algorithm has been
prepared to calculate number of modules and inverters required and
in what fashion they are to be inter-connected in order to generate
desired power.

5. A 1KW stand alone solar power system plant is also designed.

Detailed study of practical steps used in designing discussed.

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 References

[1] Obtain E.B; Momoh F.P international journal of scientific &

engineering research, volume 7, issue 1, January-2016
“Practical steps in the design and analysis of an efficient off grid
solar power system for homes”
[2] Bharath Kumar M 1, Dr. H V Byregowda 2 Vol. 3, Issue 6, June
2014 “Performance Evaluation of 5MW Grid Connected Solar
Photovoltaic Power Plant”.
[3] M. Egido, and E. Lorenzo The Sizing of a Stand-Alone PV System:
A review. (Elsevier Science Publishers B. V; Holland, 1992.
[4] © 2009 Washington State University Extension Energy Program
905 Plum Street SE, Bldg 3 Olympia, WA 98504-3165
www.energy.wsu.edu. October 2009
[5] Jay Robert B. del Rosario and Elmer P. Daddios, PhD
College of Engineering, De La Salle University Taft, Manila 1004
PHILIPPINES Design and Optimization of Photovoltaic Solar
Energy in a Small Domesticated Establishment.
[6] E.H. Camm, Member, IEEE S. E. Williams Member, IEEE
Solar power plant design and interconnection.
2011 Power and Energy Society General Meeting.

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