WRITTEN INTERVIEW FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

TECHNICIANS LICENCE (2HRS) –T3

Date: Thursday, 19th February 2015 Time: 9.00AM-
11.00AM

INSTRUCTIONS

a. Fill in all your personal details in the space provided hereunder, and
your name in the space provided on each page.

Name of
applicant:

P.O .B Tow Mobile

Code
ox n Tel. No

Existing Licence
No. Applied Class
held

ID
Email address
No.

b. Make sure that the Question Paper is for the class of license that
you applied for and that it contains all pages.
c. Answer ALL questions in the space provided in this Question Paper
d. Make sure your answers are brief and concise as possible
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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Question No. 1 2 3 Total out of 60

Marks
Obtained
QUESTION ONE (15 MARKS)

a). How is the electrical performance of photovoltaic modules and

arrays typically rated? Briefly explain how this can be used to proof
whether the power rating on the nameplate of a given panel is correct.
(Hint: You need an irradiance to be able to determine this)
(4 marks)

Photovoltaic modules and arrays are rated according to their

maximum DC output power under Standard Test Conditions
(STCs). The STC are defined by a module operating temperatures
of 250 C, an incident solar irradiance level of 1000W/M 2 and under
Air Mass 1.5 spectrum distribution. (2 marks)
Explanation: To verify this one should measure the output
current of the module at a given irradiance, after which the
equivalent current is determined at STC (1KW/m 2) irradiance. (1
mark)
Then the approximate output current is obtained by multiplying
this current with the system voltage of 12V. This value is then
compared to that on the name plate (1 mark)

b).What are grid-connected or utility interactive photovoltaic systems

and what is the primary component in such systems.
(3 marks)

These are systems designed to operate interconnected with the

electric utility. The primary component in grid-connected PV
systems is the inverter or power conditioning unit (PCU). (1
mark) A bi-directional interface is made between the PV system

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 output circuits and the electrical network, typically at an on-site
distribution panel or service entrance. (2 mark)

c). In typical solar system installations batteries are connected either

in SERIES or PARALLEL. Briefly describe the effect of either

connection on (Assume you are provided with two 12V , 200 Ah

batteries):

i. System Voltage (1 marks)

Series Connection: When two batteries are connected in series the

system voltage is the summation of the two batteries i.e. becomes 24V

Parallel Connection: The system voltage is equivalent to one of the

batteries i.e. 12V

(1/2 mark for each explanation, marks can be awarded for

candidates who state the correct system voltages without
further explanation)

ii. Total battery capacity in (Ah) (2

marks)

The battery capacity in Ah for the parallel connection is twice

that of the series connection but the total energy in Wh is the
same

(2 marks for correct explanation)

iii. Voltage drop in the lines (2
marks)

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d). State 2 benefits and 1 limitation of Solar PV systems (3

marks)

Benefits

 They require virtually no maintenance

 The fuel is free and renewable
 They are clean, safe and have no moving parts
 They are flexible and can be expanded to meet increasing
electrical needs
 They are cost effective in remote areas and for some residential
and commercial applications
Limitations
 Not suitable for energy-intensive uses such as heating
 The system is not always cost effective
QUESTION 2 (25 MARKS)

Below is the load profile of a learning institution in Kitui. The

management of the institution decides to come up with a solar hybrid
system where 80% of the load is to be supplied by solar. This is to
reduce the total fuel consumption by the generator.
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 Load Number Power Rating (W) Time of Usage
(Hrs)

Laptops 50 25 6

Television 2 60 5

Refrigerator 1 100 12

Other energy applications (e.g. phone charging) in the school are

approximated at 200Wh per day

Note: The two TVs in the institution are both AC

a).Determine the energy consumption for the institution

considering an inverter efficiency of 80%
(3 marks)

DC Energy = (50 X 25 X 6) + (1 X 100 X 12) + 200 = 8900 Wh (1

mark)

AC Energy = (2 X 60 X 5) = 600 Wh (1/2 mark)

Since the Inverter has an efficiency of 80% the Ac requirement will be

=600/80%

=750 Wh (1/2 mark)

Total requirement therefore is = (750 + 8900)

=9650 Wh (1 mark for

correct answer and unit)

The available batteries and modules have the following specifications.

100W Module Battery

Rated Power 100 Capacity 100
Power Tolerance Ah
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5% Depth of Discharge 20%
Nominal Voltage
12V
Maximum Power Current,Imp
4.55A
Short Circuit Current, Isc
4.8A

b).Determine a suitable battery size for this system if the system

voltage is assumed to be 24V with 2 days of autonomy.
(4 marks)

The daily Ah demand on the batteries will be = Total energy

requirement/System Voltage

= 9650/24 (1 mark)

For autonomy of two days = 9650*2/24

= 804.1667 (1 mark)

For a DOD of 20%, the adjusted battery capacity will be given by

=804.1667 /20%(1 mark)

=4020.8333*0.8 Ah

=3216.6667 Ah

(1 mark for correct answer and unit)

c).Determine the number of modules required if the average sun hours

is 6 hours in a day
(3marks)

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The Ah per day is 9650/24, therefore required array output current is
the Ah requirement per day/sun hours in a day.

= 9650*0.8/(24 X 6)

=53.61111 A (1 mark)

The modules are 12V, and the system is 24V, hence two modules have
to be connected on series to give an output of 24 V (1 mark)

The number of strings in parallel is = current requirement/Maximum

power current of module

= 53.61111 A/ 4.55A

= 11.78266

= 12 strings (1 mark)

The number of modules in array is = number of strings X modules per

string

= 24 modules of 100 W each (1 mark)

d).Select a suitable inverter for the above system using a safety factor
of 20%
(2 marks)

The total AC power required is = (2 X 60)

= 120 W (1 mark)
Using a safety factor of 20 %, the inverter should be 120 X 1.2
X 0.8
= 115.2 W inverter or
more (1 mark)
e).Determine the size of charge controller for this application if the
safety factor is 20%
(2 marks)
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Controller size= Short circuit current X Number of strings X
Safety Factor

= 4.8 X 12 X 1.2 (1 mark)

=69.12 A or higher (1 mark)

e).During installation the contractor decided to connect an 80 W

module in series with some of the 100 W modules to save on cost.
What is the effect of this decision on the system performance? Explain
(3 marks)

The effective output current will be lower than expected (1 mark)

The string with the 80 W will have an output current equivalent to that
of the 80 W not 100 W (1 mark) since when two modules are
connected in series the current produced by each is the same. (1
mark)
f).After every solar installation, the contractor is supposed to train the
client on preventive maintenance of the system. Explain five such
maintenance requirements that can be carried out on the above
installation (5 marks)

PV Module

 Check for shadow

 Clean Surface
 Check orientation and tilt angle
 Check wires
 Check bolts and nuts

Battery

 Check terminals and tighten if necessary

 Check if there is corrosion on the terminals, clean it and apply
grease
 Neutralize spilt acid

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  Add distilled water if electrolyte level is low
Charge Controller

 Check terminals and tighten if necessary

 Check drift of voltage set point
g).One of the modules in a PV array has “a dead cell”. Explain the

effect of this on the measured temperature of the module. What

instrument can you use to detect such a fault?

(3 marks)

The temperatures of the given module increases due to increased

resistance

Infrared thermography camera

(3 marks)

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QUESTION 3 (20 MARKS)

a). Draw a schematic diagram of a wind-solar hybrid system that has

both DC and AC loads. Clearly describe each of the components
(7 marks)

Diagram 3 marks, description of any 2 four marks

1. PV Array—Multiple PV panels installed together are called a PV

array. Mounting arrays to rooftops is most common, yet they can also
be located on a pole, a ground mounted rack, parking area shade
covers, window awnings, etc. The PV array produces Direct Current
(DC) power.
2. DC Disconnect—The DC Disconnect is a safety device that, when
manually opened, stops power running from the array to the rest of the
system. The DC disconnect is used during system installation and
anytime your contractor needs to work on the system.

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3. DC/AC Inverter—the PV array produces DC electricity, however, we
use Alternating Current (AC) electricity in our buildings and power grid.
The Inverter converts the DC power to AC power.
4. AC Disconnect—the AC Disconnect is another safety device and is
often incorporated into the Inverter.
5. Production Meter—The Production Meter measures the energy
output (in kilowatt-hours, kWh) from your system and is used to record
the amount of electricity generated.
6. Building Breaker Box and Standard Utility Meter—also called your
building’s circuit panel or electrical service panel, the Breaker Box is
where the power from the PV System enters the building. If the
building is using electricity, the PV-produced electricity will be used
first. If the building needs more electricity than the PV System is
producing, utility grid power is automatically pulled into the building.
When the PV System produces more electricity than is needed, the
excess flows back out to the utility, spinning your utility billing meter
backwards in the process. You earn credit for the excess power
produced and can use that credit when the system is not producing
energy. This process is referred to as “net metering

b).Explain three situations where the solution in (a) above won’t be

appropriate despite availability of solar and wind.
(6 marks)

 Availability of other potential sources that are cheaper than solar-

wind hybrid e.g hydro
 No open space for installation of the system in the identified site
 Availability of cheap grid power in the area
 Low income target group that is en able to pay for the electricity
c). State and explain any FOUR financing models for solar hybrid mini-
grid systems (4
marks)

Private financing models

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Utility owned financing models
Community operated financing models
Hybrid financing models (stating 1 mark explanation 1 mark)

d). State one advantage and disadvantage of Centralized Solar System

over a Solar Home System (3
marks)

Advantage: Centralized systems are convenient for users given they

operate the same way as the grid or even better as there are no power
interruptions, surges or spikes

Disadvantage: The system has both high initial and running costs
compared to solar home systems
1.5 marks each

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