6/11/2013

Design and Sizing of on-grid PV

Systems
Firas Alawneh

Outline

Grid connected PV systems

Inverters for grid connected systems
Characteristics of inverters
Types of inverters
Sizing of grid connected PV systems

6/11/2013

GRID CONNECTED PV SYSTEM

Photovoltaic Module

Main components of a grid

connected PV system:
PV generator
Grid connected
inverter

Inverter
Grid

User

The grid connected inverter

is different from a standalone inverter.
A grid connected inverter
requires a grid in order to
operate.

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF GRID

CONNECTED PV SYSTEMS
Net metering
The difference between
production-consumption
is measured

Feed-in tariff
The total production of
energy is measured

6/11/2013

Efficiency of inverters

Measured efficiency curves for a tested inverter of 1500 W

Efficiency of inverter is maximum usually in the range 50-80% of rated power,
and drops rapidly at very low power levels.

PV Inverter Design Topologies

6/11/2013

Concepts of inverters
Central inverter
One inverter for the whole PV
generator. PV strings connected
on a DC bus (DS side).
Old PV plants used to utilize
central inverters.
Power range of several kWp.
Cheap and efficient technology,
based on drive system industry.
Drawbacks:
Mismatch
losses
due
to
combination of a large group of
PV modules
Difficulties and Losses due to DC
wiring
Poor expandability and adaptability
to customer requirements
Failure of inverter causes loss of
whole PV energy
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...

...

DC BUS
DC
AC

Concepts of inverters
String inverters
...

...

DC

DC
AC

DC
AC

AC
AC BUS

One string of PV modules

connected to one inverter.
Connection on AC side.
Compromise between central and
module integrated inverters.
Very popular. Power ranges about
0.5-5 kWp
Easy plant design, one PV stringinverter unit can be repeated for
the total required power by the
customer.
Low cost due to mass production.
In case of an inverter failure only
small part of PV energy is lost,
replacement is easy.
Reduced mismatch losses
Ease of plant expansion
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6/11/2013

Concepts of inverters
Multi-String inverters

...

...

DC

DC
DC

DC
DC

DC

DC

Further development of string

inverters. Each string of PV
modules uses a small DC/DC
converter, and one larger inverter
unit is used for the whole plant.
It combines the higher yield of
energy output of string inverters
(due to individual MPP tracking of
small strings) with the low cost of a
central inverter.
Expansion of system is possible by
adding a PV string and an extra
DC/DC converter, within a certain
power range.

AC

Concepts of inverters
Module integrated
(AC modules)

inverter

One module uses one inverter.

Connection on AC bus.
Evolved in mid 90s, but did not
gain acceptance by the market.
Plug and play unit.
Mismatch losses and DC wiring
minimised.
Suitable
mainly
for
small
residential systems.
Drawbacks:
Due to low power ratings, lower
efficiencies and higher cost per
Wp.
Difficult
and
expensive
the
replacement of failed inverters.
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6/11/2013

Concepts of inverters
Team inverters or masterslave cooperation

...

...

DC

DC
AC

DC
AC

AC

Combines string technology with

the master-slave concept.
At low irradiance levels the
complete PV array is connected to
one inverter only. With increasing
solar irradiation the PV array is
divided into smaller string units
until every inverter operates close
to its rated power.
The inverters are controlled in a
master-slave fashion.
Increased yield due to inverters
operating closer to maximum
efficiency.
Communication between inverters
and increased complexity of wiring
is required.
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Matching inverter with PV modules

Design of PV modules inverter connection
Step 1
Connection of modules in series so that the total voltage of the string is within the
input voltage range of the inverter.
The open circuit voltage of the string for the minimum expected operation
temperature of the modules should be lower than the maximum allowable input
voltage of the inverter. Check also for the maximum allowable system voltage of
the PV module.
The optimum power voltage of the string for the maximum expected operation
temperature of the modules should be higher than the minimum allowable input
voltage of the inverter
Step 2
Connection of strings in parallel so that the desired power is obtained. The total
operation current of the parallel strings should be lower than the maximum
allowable current of the inverter. The total PV generator nominal power should be
close to the nominal power of the inverter. The PV generator nominal power may
be up to about 110-115% of the AC maximum power of the inverter.
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6/11/2013

MPP Tracking for a certain PV String at different solar irradiance levels

I

MPP Adjustment

Iinverter,dc,max

MPP

Vpv,system,max

Vinverter,dc,max

Vinverter,mpp,max

Vinverter,mpp,min

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MPPT Tracking for different PV String Configurations at STC

I

1
1
2
3
3
4
4

4
4
Iinverter,dc,max
3

Under-sized String
Adjusted MPP
Well-sized String
Over-sized String
Adjusted MPP
Over-sized String
Adjusted MPP

3
MPP

2
1
1

Vpv,system,max

Vinverter,dc,max

Vinverter,mpp,max

Vinverter,mpp,min

Sunny Boy 1200 (SB1200) Made by SMA (Germany)

6/11/2013

Technical Specifications - Nominal

Efficiency Curve of Inverter (Dependence on Input PV Voltage)

6/11/2013

The main purpose of grid connected PV system sizing is to match the

number of the chosen PV modules with the chosen inverter.
PV Generator

Inversion Stage

DC
Power

=
~

AC
Utility Grid
Power

To correctly match the inverter with the PV modules, follow the following steps:
1. The nominal Peak power of the PV array should match the maximum
allowed DC input power of the inverter. Increasing PV peak power above the
allowed level will yield to power loss in the PV produced power in case of high
irradiance levels as the inverter will limit maximum power to its rated power.
The designer should follow the PV inverter rules when selecting the number of
PV modules to avoid power loss due to oversizing.

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2. The open circuit voltage (Voc) of the PV array should not be higher than
the maximum PV system voltage allowed by the PV modules manufacture;
otherwise the PV guarantee will be lost.
3. The open circuit voltage (Voc) of each PV string (series connected PV
modules) in the PV array should not be higher than maximum or absolute
DC voltage at the input of the inverter to avoid overvoltage at the input of the
inverter (overvoltage is not included usually in the inverter warranty). Voc
should be calculated in low irradiance and low temperature case according
to the following equation:

Voc (G, Tamb) = Voc (G) + Voc (G) Voc (Tpv - 25C)
Where:
G is solar irradiance (e.g. 100 W/m2)
Tamb is the ambient temperature (e.g. -10 C)
Voc is the temperature coefficient for Voc
Tpv is the PV operating temperature which is calculated as follows:

Tpv = Tamb + G (NOCT 20 C) / 800

20

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6/11/2013

NOCT is the Normal Operating Cell Temperature which is rated at the following
conditions:
G = 800 W/m2
Tamb = 20 C
Wind speed = 1 m/s
To calculate the number of PV modules in each string (series connected PV
modules), the calculated Voc of the PV array should be divided by the nominal
open circuit voltage of one PV module.
4. The Vmpp range of the PV string should be within the allowed Vmpp range of the
inverter, in order to operate the inverter in an efficient way. The Vmpp range of the PV
string is calculated in two cases:
Case 1: Low irradiance (e.g. 100 W/m2) and ambient temperature (e.g. -10 C) levels
Case 2: High irradiance (e.g. 1000 W/m2) and ambient temperature (e.g. 50 C) levels.
The following equation is used to calculate Vmpp (100, -10) and Vmpp (1000, 50):

Vmpp (G, Tamb) = Vmpp (G) + Vmpp (G) Vmpp (Tpv - 25C)
Vmpp (100, -10) and Vmpp (1000, 50) should be within the allowed Vmpp range of the
chosen inverter. Number of PV modules allowed in the PV string is then calculated. 21

5. The Impp current of the PV array should be greater than the maximum allowed
current of the inverter at its input. The Impp current of the PV array is calculated
using the following equation:

Impp (G, Tamb) = Impp (G) + Impp (G) Impp (Tpv - 25C)
Impp should be calculated at one case when the solar irradiance and ambient
temperature levels are high, Impp(1000, 50). This value for parallel strings should not
exceed the limit of the inverter.
To calculate the number of PV strings (parallel connected PV strings), the calculated
Impp of the PV array is divided by the nominal Impp of one PV module.

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6/11/2013

Matching inverter with PV modules Example 1

Compatibility check between PV Inverter and modules

Module Specifications:
Yingli Solar YL235-29b

Pdc,max

Total Nominal PV Nominal Power

Vdc,max Vmpp,min Vmpp,max Impp,max
Peak Power
Ratio (NPR)

Remarks
Pmpp

(W)

(kWp)

(%)

(V)

(V)

(V)

(A)

Inverter SMA SB-1200

1320

80-120%

400

100

320

12.6

String 1
String 2
String 1
String 2
String 1
String 2
String 1
String 2
String 1
String 2
String 1
String 2
String 1

4
0
5
0
6
0
7
0
8
0
9
0
10
0

String 2

165.4

92.9

131.9

235 Wp

Voc
1 MPPT (2 string inputs)

0.94

140%

8.2

non-compatible, NPR >120%

1.175

112%

206.7

116.1

1.41

94%

248.1

139.3

164.8

8.2

Compatible

197.8

8.2

1.645

80%

289.4

162.6

230.8

8.2

Compatible
Compatible

1.88

70%

330.8

185.8

263.7

8.2

non-compatible, NPR <80%

2.115

62%

372.1

209.0

296.7

8.2

non-compatible, NPR <80%

2.35

56%

413.5

232.2

329.7

8.2

Over-voltage danger

Vmpp
Vdc,max
Vmpp,min
Vmpp,max
Isc
Impp
Impp,max
V
I
NOCT

37 V
29.5
41.3
23.2
33.0
8.54
7.97
8.2
-0.37%
0.06%
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Site Conditions:
Tamb,low
G_low
Tpv,low
Tamb,high
G_high
Tpv,high

V
V
V
V
A
A
A
/C
/C
2 C

-10 C
2
100 W/m
-6.75 C
50 C
2
1000 W/m
82.5 C

Matching inverter with PV modules Example 2

PV module Sharp NE-L5E2E

Inverter SMA SB 3300TL HC

Pm

125 Wp

Max. System Voltage

600 V

Max AC power

3300 Wac

Voc

32.3 V

Temper. Coeff. of Voc

-0.313%

125-750 V

Isc

5.46 A

Temper. Coeff. of Isc

0.03%

Input voltage range

(MPP Range)
Max input current

11 A

Vmp

26 V

Imp

4.80 A

Voc change with temperature :--0.101V/oC. At -5oC: Voc=35.33V. At 70oC: Vmp=21.5 V approx.
For the input voltage range of inverter, 6 to 21 modules could be connected in series. Due to
module max. system voltage (600V) only up to 16 modules can be connected in series (565 V).
Possibilities
Series

Parallel

PV power

16

Comments
PV power too high. Energy will be lost due to overload of inverter.

15

3.75

Acceptable

14

3.5

Acceptable

10

2.5

Acceptable, but not recommended. PV power too low

10

3.75

Not acceptable. PV power OK, but current higher than max allowable
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6/11/2013

Performance Evaluation of Grid Connected PV Systems

For grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, two main performance
indicators are used: the yield and the performance ratio:

Y = Measured AC energy production in AC kWh/year Total PV STC Peak Power in kWp [AC kWh/kWp/year]
It is also called Annual Equivalent Hours (Hrs/Year), which represents how man y hours the PV system
generates annually AC kilowatt-hours at its rated PV peak power.
PR = Measured AC kWh/year ideal DC kWh/year

(ideal = STC)

ideal DC kWh/year = Measured in-plane Global Solar Radiation in kWh/m2/year

Total PV Area in m2 STC PV Efficiency
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Example - Yield Comparison Between Jordan and Japan

Question: calculate the PV peak power needed to cover an annual AC electric

load consumption of 200,000 kWh / year in both Jordan and Japan? (Assume,
Y = 1800 kWh/year for Jordan and assume that Y = 900 kWh/year for Japan).
Answer:
Nominal PV Power
Nominal PV Power

200,000 kWh/year
1800 kWh/kWp/year
= 200,000 kWh/year
900 kWh/kWp/year

= 111.11 kWp

Jordan

= 222.22 kWp

Japan

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6/11/2013

Example Performance Ratio Calculation

Question: Calculate PR for a PV system in a certain year, given the following:
-

Total measured AC electricity generated or injected into the grid: 3182 kWh
Total measured in-plane global solar radiation: 1795 kWh/m2
Total PV surface area: 14.2 m 2
Standard or STC PV efficiency: 15.1%

Solution:
Performance Ratio (PR)

=
=
=
=

AC kilowatt-hours / year
100 %
DC kilowatt-hours at STC / year
3182 kWh / year
100 %
1795 kWh/m2/year 14.2 m 2 15.1%
3182 kWh / year 100 %
3849 kWh / year
82.7 %

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End

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