What is Solar PV system?

Solar PV system or solar photovoltaic system is one of the renewable energy

systems which uses PV modules to convert sunlight into electricity. These are of 2
types:

1) OFF Grid Solar PV system- The electricity generated can be stored or used
directly

2) ON Grid Solar PV system- The electricity generated can be fed back into the grid
or combined with one or more other electricity generators or more renewable energy
source (Wind, Geothermal etc.)

Solar PV system is very reliable and clean source of electricity that can suit a wide
range of applications such as residence, industry, agriculture, livestock, etc.

Designing of Solar Power for Homes:

Steps to be followed for designing:

1) Determine of per day energy consumption: The first step in designing a

solar PV system is to find out the total power and energy consumption of all
loads that need to be supplied by the solar PV system. This is done as
follows:

1.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day for each appliance used.
Add the Watt-hours needed for all appliances together to get the
total Watt-hours per day which
must be delivered to the appliances.

1.2 Calculate total Watt-hours per day needed from the PV

modules.
Multiply the total appliances Watt-hours per day times 1.3 (the
energy lost in the system) to get
the total Watt-hours per day which must be provided by the panels.
2) Size of the PV modules: Different size of PV modules will produce different
amount of power. To find out the sizing of PV module, the total peak watts
produced is needed. Now, the peak watts produced depends on size of the PV
module and climate of site location. We have to consider the panel generation
factor, which is different in each site location. For eastern region in India, the
panel generation factor is 5(say). To determine the sizing of PV modules, we
calculate as follows:

2.1 Calculation of the total Watt-peak rating needed for PV modules:

We divide the total Watt-hours per day needed from the PV modules
(obtained from item 1.2) by 5 to
get the total Watt-peak rating needed for the PV panels to operate the
appliances.

2.2 Calculation of the number of PV panels for the system:

We divide the answer obtained in item 2.1 by the rated output Watt-
peak of the PV modules available
to us (We increase any fractional part of result to the next highest full
number and that will be the
number of PV modules required)

Result of the calculation is the minimum number of PV panels. If more PV

modules are installed, the system will perform better and battery life will be
improved. If fewer PV modules are used, the system may not work at all
during cloudy periods and battery life will be shortened.

3) Inverter sizing: An inverter is used in the system where AC power output is

needed, corresponding to a DC input source. The input rating of the inverter
should never be lower than the total watt of appliances. The inverter must
have the same nominal voltage as our battery.

For stand-alone systems, the inverter must be large enough to handle

the total amount of Watts we will be using at one time. The inverter size should
be 25-30% bigger than total Watts of appliances. In case of appliance type is
motor or compressor then inverter size should be minimum 3 times the capacity
of those appliances and must be added to the inverter capacity to handle surge
current during starting.

For grid tie systems or grid connected systems, the input rating of the
inverter should be same as PV array rating to allow for safe and efficient
operation.
 4) Battery sizing: The battery type recommended for using in solar PV system
is deep cycle battery. Deep cycle battery is specifically designed for to be
discharged to low energy level and rapid recharged or cycle charged and
discharged day after day for years. The battery should be large enough to
store sufficient energy to operate the appliances at night and cloudy days. To
find out the size of battery, we calculate as follows:

4.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day used by appliances.

4.2 Divide the total Watt-hours per day used by 0.85 for battery loss.
4.3 Divide the answer obtained in item 4.2 by 0.6 for depth of discharge.
4.4 Divide the answer obtained in item 4.3 by the nominal battery voltage.
4.5 Multiply the answer obtained in item 4.4 with days of autonomy (the number
of days that we
need the system to operate when there is no power produced by PV panels or
the number of days of battery back-up required) to get the required Ampere-hour
capacity of deep-cycle battery.

Battery Capacity (Ah) = Total Watt-hours per day used by appliances x Days of
backup
(0.85 x 0.6 x nominal battery voltage)

5) Solar charge controller sizing: The solar charge controller is typically rated
against Ampere and Voltage capacities. We select the solar charge controller
to match the voltage of PV array and batteries and then identify which type of
solar charge controller is right for our application. Care must be taken to make
sure that solar charge controller has enough capacity to handle the current
from PV array.

For the series charge controller type, the sizing of controller depends on the
total PV input current which is
delivered to the controller and also depends on PV panel configuration (series
or parallel configuration).

According to standard practice, the sizing of solar charge controller is to take

the short circuit current (Isc) of
the PV array, and multiply it by 1.3
Hence, Solar charge controller rating = Total short circuit current of PV array x 1.3
Hence we can say that the solar PV system includes different components that
should be selected according to our system type, site location and applications. The
major components for solar PV system are solar charge controller, inverter, battery
bank, auxiliary energy sources and loads (appliances).

PV module : converts sunlight into DC electricity.

Solar charge controller : regulates the voltage and current coming from the PV
panels going to battery and prevents battery overcharging and prolongs the battery
life.

Inverter : converts DC output of PV panels or wind turbine into a clean AC current

for AC appliances or fed back into grid line.

Battery : stores energy for supplying to electrical appliances when there is a

demand.
Example: My house has the following electrical appliance usage:

• Five 10 Watts LED lamps used 7 hours per day.

• Four 60 Watts fans used for 10 hours per day (on an average)
• One 90 Watt refrigerator that runs 24 hours per day with compressor run 12
hours and off 12 hours.
• One 20 Watt water purifier that runs 1 hour per day
• One 350 Watt television that runs 2 hours per day
• One 2000 Watt geyser that runs 45 minutes per day
• Other appliances (electric kettle, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, phone
charging, PC, Laptop charging)

The system will be powered by 12 Vdc, 110 Wp PV module.

1. Determine power consumption demands:

Total appliance use = (10 W * 5 * 4 hours) + (60 W * 4 * 10 hours) + (90 W * 24 *

0.5 hours) + (20 W * 1 hour) + (350 W * 2 hours) + (2000 W * .75 hours) + 2kWh
= 7900 Wh/day (we take as 8000 Wh/day)
Total PV panels energy
= 8000 x 1.3
needed
= 10,400 Wh/day.

2. Size of the PV panel:

2.1 Total Wp of PV panel = 10,400 / 5

capacity
needed
= 2080 Wp
2.2 Number of PV panels
= 2080 / 110
needed
= 18.91 modules

Actual requirement = 19 modules

So this system should be powered by at least 19 modules of 110 Wp PV

module each.

3. Inverter sizing:

Total Watt of all appliances = 50 + 240 + 90 + 20 + 350 + 2000 +500 = 3250 W

Considering the inverter efficiency, the rating should be considered say 1.25
times.

The inverter size should be about 4 kW or greater.

4. Solar charge controller sizing:

 PV module specification
Pm = 110 Wp
Vm = 16.7 Vdc
Im = 6.6 A
Voc = 20.7 A
Isc = 7.5 A
Solar charge controller rating = (4 strings x 7.5 A) x 1.3 = 39 A

So the solar charge controller should be rated 40 A at 12 V or greater.

5. Battery sizing:

Total appliances use = (50 W x 4 hours) + (240 W x 10 hours) + (90 W x 12 hours)

+ (20 W * 1 hour) +(350 W * 2 hours) + (2000 W * .75 hours) + 2kWh = 7900 Wh

Nominal battery voltage = 12 V

Days of backup = 2 days

Battery capacity = 7900 x2

(0.85 x 0.6 x 12)

Total Ampere-hours required 2581.7 Ah

So the battery should be rated 12 V 2600 Ah for 2 days backup.

Layout of the rooftop solar power