AR40215

Building Energy System and Auditing

Semester-VI, B.Arch
Alternate Source of Energy
Solar Energy

Dr. Shankha Pratim Bhattacharya

Associate Professor
Department of Architecture and Regional Planning
IIT Kharagpur
SOLAR ENERGY
Component of Solar Panel System

Solar Panel / Module

Solar Cell

A single PV cell 156 X 156 mm

Multiple cells of 100 – 200 W

PV System
Solar Array

Complete PV System with supporting components Multiple Solar panels / modules to form a PV array
Component of Solar PV System

Tracking System
Mounting System
Cabling
DC Isolator
Battery
Inverter
AC Isolator
Charge Controller
Electric Meter
Working Principle of Solar Cell

Glass

Reflect-proof Film
N-Type Semiconductor
p-n Junction
Electron Flow P-Type Semiconductor

Electrode

Load

Electrode
Solar PV System Wiring Diagram

Electric Meter Load

Solar PV System Charge Controller

Battery Inverter
 Estimation of Solar Power Generation (Method-I)

Step 01 - Determine the Photovoltaic Array Area and Efficiency

More the exposed area of the solar PV Array more will be the energy generation.

The efficiency of the panel varies by type of solar panel, and the module efficiency value will be provided by
the manufacturer.

Module efficiency may range from below 10% to about 20% depending on the technology. Other than the
specific technology, the losses in various attached accessories will also count in the efficiency.

This is also called Conversion Efficiency.

Step 02 - Determine the Tilt Angle of the Solar Array according to the Latitude of the Location

Tilt Angle = (90° - Solar Altitude Angle)

The Tilt Angle will depend upon: (i) Location or Latitude, (ii) Date and (iii) Time
The Tilt Angle is one of the important factor to generate effective amount of solar electricity

Solar Panel / Module

Solar Altitude Angle

Tilt Angle

Rule of Thumb: The optimum tilt angle is calculated by Example: For latitude is 30°
• Adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter, and The Winter optimum Tilt Angle 30 + 15 = 45°
The Summer optimum Tilt Angle 30 – 15 = 15°
• Subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer.
Step 03 - Determine Monthly Average Solar Radiation of the Location

Find the Solar Radiation data of the location from website or hand books.
Monthly Average solar radiation in Kw-hr/m2 / Day will be useful for computation.

Step 04 - Calculate Energy Output on a monthly or yearly basis

 5m
Numerical Example:
The layout of a building terrace is shown in the
figure . It is proposed to install the Solar PV panel in
the terrace area. Use the following data and
estimate the month wise maximum possible solar 13m
energy generation. The building is located at
Mumbai (Latitude 19 °N)

Size of Solar Panel:

2m(height) X 0.6m(width)
Conversion Efficiency: 15%

Service Area
It is recommended that south facing solar panels
will be most effective to produce electricity 8m

22m N
 Solution:
Tilt Angle:θ Latitude of Mumbai = 19 °N
Solar Altitude Angle:α
Using rule of thumb:
The Winter optimum Tilt Angle 19 + 15 = 34°
The Summer optimum Tilt Angle 19 – 15 = 4°

In Winter:
Base = 2XCos34 = 1.66m
θ α
Row Spacing = 2XSin34 X Tan34 = 0.75m
Adding: 1.66 + 0.75 = 2.41m

Base Row Spacing

In Summer:
Base = h.Cosθ Row Spacing = h.Sinθ. Tanθ
Base = 2XCos4 = 2m
Row Spacing = 2XSin4 X Tan4 = 0m
Adding: 2 + 0 = 2m

Therefore, Keeping 2.41 meter width for each rows of PV Array

http://www.solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-angle-calculator.html
Keeping 0.6m (2-feet) strip along the terrace and
5m
connection to the service area for circulation.
Each dimension will effectively reduced by 0.6m

No. of Arrays= (13-0.6)/2.41 = 5 13m

No. of Panel in each Array= (5-0.6)/0.6 = 7

5-Arrays @ 7 Module/ Panel is each Array

Total 35 Modules / Panels

Service Area
No. of Arrays= (8-0.6)/2.41 = 3
No. of Panel in each Array= (22-0.6)/0.6 = 35 8m

3-Arrays @35Module/ Panel is each Array

Total 105Modules / Panels

22m N
Maximum number of Modules / Panels can be installed = (35+105) = 140
Area of each Module / Panel = 2m X 0.6m = 1.2 m2
Total area of Solar Panel = 1.2 X 140 = 168 m2

Monthly Average Solar Radiation of the Location

 Energy Output on a Monthly basis
(Monthly Average Solar Radiation Intensity X Total Exposed area X Conversion Efficiency)
= (6.51 X 168 X 0.15) = 164.05 Kw-hr per day (Average for January Month)

Monthly Output = (Daily average output of the Month X No. of Days in the Month)
= (164.05 X 31) = 5085.61 Kw-hr = 5.09 Mw-hr for January
Monthly Average
Daily Average Monthly Output
Month Solar Radiation in Days in Month
Output in Kw-hr Mw-hr / Month
Kw-hr/Sqm/Day
JAN 6.51 164.05 31 5.09
FEB 7.06 177.91 28 4.98
MAR 7.21 181.69 31 5.63
APR 7.11 179.17 30 5.38
MAY 6.67 168.08 31 5.21
JUN 4.50 113.40 30 3.40
JUL 4.10 103.32 31 3.20
AUG 4.34 109.37 31 3.39
SEP 5.18 130.54 30 3.92
OCT 6.00 151.20 31 4.69
NOV 6.48 163.30 30 4.90
DEC 6.25 157.50 31 4.88
 Estimation of Solar Power Generation (Method-II)
Photovoltaic System
The energy output from a photovoltaic system can be calculated by the following formula:

E  A  (SPY )  R  ( PR)

E = Energy (kWh)

A = Total solar panel Area (m²)

SPY = Solar Panel Yield of each panel expresses in fraction

R = Annual or daily average solar radiation on tilted panels (shadings not included) in kW/ m² per hour.
The global annual (or daily average) irradiation incident on the PV panels can be established from the
solar radiation data, specific inclination (slope, tilt) and orientation (azimuth).

PR = Performance Ratio is a value to evaluate the quality and efficiency of a photovoltaic installation. It
includes all losses like inverter, temperature, DC and AC cables, shadings, weak radiation, due to dust
and snow. Performance ratio normally range between 0.5 and 0.9 with a default value = 0.75
The Solar Panel Yield (SPY) is define by the ratio of electrical power (in kWp) of one solar panel divided by
the area of one panel
Example: If the solar panel (PV module) of area 1.6 m² yield 250 Wp [Wp = Watt-peak ] then, The Yield of
Solar Panel is

Kilo - Watt peak 250

SPY  100%  100  15.6%
PV Module area 1.6 1000

The yield need to be estimated with standard test conditions radiation=1000W/m², cell temperature=25°C,
Wind speed=1 m/s,
Example:
Find the output of a PV cell system of area 250m2, and performance ratio= 60%. The daily average solar
radiation is 400 W/ m² per hour. The PV cell of 2.4 m2 area produces a 320Wp under standard testing
condition.
Solution:

Kilo - Watt peak 320

SPY  100%  100  13.3%
PV Module area 2.4 1000

400
𝐸 = 𝐴 × 𝑆𝑃𝑌 × 𝑅 × 𝑃𝑅 = 250 × 0.133 × × 0.6 = 7.98 𝐾𝑤
1000
Numerical Problem:
The roof top of an apartment building is proposed to have solar panel to generate electricity. The solar electricity
will be used for running some basic features of the residence. It is found that the solar panels can be installed in
South and West direction. South direction can hold 70% of the solar panel and rest in West. The Size of each panel is
1500mm X 600mm gives 320 Wp. The Performance Ratio is 65% . The Solar Radiation data is given below:
Average Solar
Direction Average Solar Hours
Radiation (Watt/Sqm)

South 450 6
West 350 3

There are total Nine apartments in the building. The Number of Unit : 9
house hold appliance proposed to be run by solar Location Watt Numbers Operating Hours
electricity data are given below: Balcony Light 18 2 2
Toilet Light 18 3 0.5
Kitchen Light 40 1 4
Find the Number of Solar Panel need to be installed Ceiling Fan 80 4 12
in South and West Store Light 32 1 0.5
Common Area
Location Watt Numbers Operating Hours
Staircase Light 18 6 10
Parking Light 32 4 4
Solution:

Find the Solar Power Yield of the panel:

The Size of each panel is 1500mm X 600mm gives 320 Wp.

𝐾𝑤−𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘
𝑆𝑃𝑌 = x 100%
𝑃𝑉 𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

320 1
𝑆𝑃𝑌 = × × 100 = 35.55%
0.9 1000

Average Solar Let total area be ‘A’

Direction Average Solar Hours
Radiation (Watt/Sqm) South Area = 0.7A
South 450 6 West Area = 0.3A
West 350 3

The Solar Energy Generated by all the panels in South and West :
(0.7A X 0.3555 X 450 X 0.6 X 6 ) + ( 0.3A X 0.3555 X 350 X 0.6 X 3) = (403.14 + 68.19)A
= 471.33 A Watt-hr = 0.47133 A Kw-hr
Electrical Loading:
Number of Unit : 9 Daily Electrical Power Requirement
Location Watt Numbers Operating Hours Total Load (Watt-hr) = (9 X 4115) + (1592)
Balcony Light 18 2 2 72 = 38627 Watt-hr
Toilet Light 18 3 0.5 27 = 38.63 Kw-hr
Kitchen Light 40 1 4 160
Ceiling Fan 80 4 12 3840
Store Light 32 1 0.5 16
Total per Appartment : 4115
Common Area
Location Watt Numbers Operating Hours Total Load (Watt-hr)
Staircase Light 18 6 10 1080
Parking Light 32 4 4 512
Total: 1592

Equating the Solar Energy with the total electrical load:

0.47133 A = 38.63
A = 82 Sqm

South Area = 0.7 X 82 = 57.4 Sqm = 57.4 / 0.9 = 64 Panels

West Area = 0.3 X 82 = 24.6 Sqm = 24.6 /0.9 = 28 Panels