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Solar Inverter String Design Calculations

This document provides guidance on calculating the maximum and minimum number of solar modules per string when designing a photovoltaic system to work with a specific solar inverter. It outlines factors to consider like panel temperature coefficients, voltage and current ratings, and the inverter's voltage and current limits. An example calculation is shown for a system in Curitiba, Brazil using 330W solar panels and a 5KW three phase inverter, determining that the optimal design would have one string of 16 panels at 5280W. Proper sizing of strings and panels is necessary to operate the inverter efficiently within its voltage and current parameters accounting for temperature variations.

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577 views4 pages

Solar Inverter String Design Calculations

This document provides guidance on calculating the maximum and minimum number of solar modules per string when designing a photovoltaic system to work with a specific solar inverter. It outlines factors to consider like panel temperature coefficients, voltage and current ratings, and the inverter's voltage and current limits. An example calculation is shown for a system in Curitiba, Brazil using 330W solar panels and a 5KW three phase inverter, determining that the optimal design would have one string of 16 panels at 5280W. Proper sizing of strings and panels is necessary to operate the inverter efficiently within its voltage and current parameters accounting for temperature variations.

Uploaded by

hammad engineering
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Solar Inverter String Design

Calculations

Solar Inverter String Design Calculations


The following article will help you calculate the maximum / minimum number of
modules per series string when designing your PV system. And the inverter sizing
comprises two parts, voltage, and current sizing. During the inverter sizing you need
to take into account the different configuration limits, which should be considered
when sizing the solar power inverter (Data from the inverter and solar panel data
sheets). And during the sizing, temperature coefficient is an important factor.
1. Solar panel temperature coefficient of Voc / Isc:
The voltage/current that solar panels work at is dependent on the cell temperature, the
higher the temperature the lower the voltage / current the solar panel will produce and
vise versa. The voltage/current of the system will always be at it’s highest in the
coldest conditions and for example, the solar panel temperature coefficient of Voc is
required to work this out. With mono and poly crystalline solar panels it’s always a
negative %/oC figure, such as -0.33%/oC on the SUN 72P-35F. This information can
be found on the solar panel manufacturers data sheet. Please refer to figure 2.
2. No. of solar panels in series string:
When solar panels are wired in series strings (that is the positive of one panel is
connected to the negative of the next panel), the voltage of each panel is added
together to give the total string voltage. Therefore we need to know how many solar
panels you intend to wire in series.
When you have all the information you are ready to enter it into the following solar
panel voltage sizing and current sizing calculations to see if the solar panel design will
suit your requirements.
Voltage Sizing:
1. Max panel’s voltage =Voc*(1+(Min.temp-25)*temperature coefficient(Voc)
2. Max number of Solar panels=Max. input voltage / Max panel’s voltage 
Current Sizing:
1. Min panel’s current =Isc*(1+(Max.temp-25)*temperature coefficient(Isc)
2. Max number of strings=Max. input current / Min panel’s current
3. Example:
Curitiba, the city of Brazil, customer is ready to install one Renac Power 5KW three
phase inverter, the using solar panel model is 330W module, the minimum surface
temperature of the city is -3℃ and the maximum temperature is 35℃, the open
circuit voltage is 45.5V, Vmpp is 37.8V, the inverter MPPT voltage range is 160V-
950V, and the maximum voltage can withstand 1000V.
Inverter and datasheet:

Solar panel datasheet:


A) Voltage Sizing
At the lowest temperature (location dependent, here -3℃ ), the open-circuit voltage V
oc of the modules in each string must not exceed the maximum input voltage of the
inverter (1000 V):
1) Calculation of the Open Circuit Voltage at -3℃:
VOC (-3℃)= 45.5*(1+(-3-25)*(-0.33%)) = 49.7 Volt
2) Calculation of N the maximum number of modules in each string:
N = Max input voltage (1000 V)/49.7 Volt = 20.12 (always round down)
The number of solar PV panels in each string must not exceed 20 modules Besides, at
the highest temperature (location dependent, here 35 ℃), the MPP voltage VMPP of
each string must be within the MPP range of the solar power inverter (160V–950V):
3) Calculation of the maximum Power Voltage VMPP at 35℃:
VMPP (35℃)=45.5*(1+(35-25)*(-0.33%))= 44 Volt
4) Calculation of the minimum number of modules M in each string:
M = Min MPP voltage (160 V)/ 44 Volt = 3.64(always round up)
The number of solar PV panels in each string must be at least 4 modules.
B) Current Sizing
The short circuit current I SC of the PV array must not exceed the allowed maximum
Input current of the solar power inverter:
1) Calculation of the maximum Current at 35℃:
ISC (35℃)= ((1+ (10 * (TCSC /100))) * ISC ) = 9.22*(1+(35-25)*(-0.06%))= 9.16 A
2) Calculation of P the maximum number of strings:
P = Maximum input current (12.5A)/9.16 A = 1.36 strings (always round down)
The PV array must not exceed one string.
Remark:
This step is not required for the inverter MPPT with only one string.
C) Conclusion:
1. The PV generator (PV array) consists of one string, which is connected to the three
phase 5KW inverter.
2. In each string the connected solar panels should be within 4-20 modules.
Remark:
Since the best MPPT voltage of three phase inverter is around 630V (best MPPT
voltage of single phase inverter is around 360V), the working efficiency of the
inverter is the highest at this time. So it is recommended to calculate the number of
solar modules according to the best MPPT voltage:
N = Best MPPT VOC / VOC (-3°C) = 756V/49.7V=15.21
Single crystal panel Best MPPT VOC =Best MPPT voltage x 1.2=630×1.2=756V
Polycrystal panel Best MPPT VOC =Best MPPT voltage x 1.2=630×1.3=819V
So for Renac three phase inverter R3-5K-DT the recommended input solar panels are
16 modules, and just need to be connected one string 16x330W=5280W.
4. Conclusion
Inverter input No of solar panels it depends on cell temperature and temperature
coefficient. The best performance is based on the best MPPT voltage of the inverter.

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