PV system configurations

• Stand-alone systems - those systems which use

photovoltaic technology only, and are not
connected to any utility grid.
• Hybrid systems - those systems which use
photovoltaic and combined with some other
form of energy, such as diesel generation or
wind.
• Grid-integrated systems - those systems are
connected directly to a utility grid.
 Stand Alone PV System
• Water pumping
 Examples of Stand Alone
PV Systems
• Operation of a
water pump
using PV panel

• PV powers stock
water pumps in
remote locations
 Examples of Stand Alone
PV Systems
• Communications facilities can be powered
by solar technologies, even in remote,
rugged terrain. Also, if a natural or human-
caused disaster disables the utility grid,
solar technologies can maintain power to
critical operations
Examples of Stand Alone
PV Systems
• This exhibit, dubbed
"Solar
Independence", is a 4-
kW system used for
mobile emergency
power.
• while the workhorse
batteries that can
store up to 51 kW-hrs
of electricity are
housed in a portable
trailer behind the flag.
• The system is the
largest mobile power
unit ever built
Hybrid PV System
 Examples of Hybrid
PV Systems
• Ranching the
Sun project
in Hawaii
generates
175 kW of
PVpower and
50 kW of
wind power
from the five
Bergey 10
kW wind
turbines
Examples of Hybrid
PV Systems
• PV / diesel hybrid
power system - 12
kW PV array, 20 kW
diesel genset
• This system serves
as the master site
for the "top gun"
Tactical Air Combat
Training System
(TACTS) on the
U.S. Navy's Fallon
Range.
Grid-Tied PV System
 Balance of systems (BoS)
• The balance of system (BOS) encompasses all
components of a photovoltaic system other than
the photovoltaic panels. This includes wiring,
switches, a mounting system, one or many solar
inverters, a battery bank and battery charger.
 Balance of System (BoS) components

✓ Wiring, fuse, disconnects, combiners, metering,

etc.
• Tracking (if any), Mounting of modules
• Grounding
• Lightning protectors
✓ Charge Controller
✓ Inverter
✓ Battery containers (Storage)
• Ground clearance, Fencing, Building, etc.
• Module cleaning (water sprayers)
 Wire Sizing
• National Electrical Code (NEC) is published by the
National Fire Protection Association, USA
• Updated every three years
• NEC specifies:
• sizes and types of switches, fuses and wire to be used
• where these items must be located in the system
• Normally, copper wire will be used in PV system
wiring
• Aluminum wire is allowed by NEC, but generally is
used only over longer distances for carrying
higher currents
• Aluminum oxidizes faster than Cu and is not easily
detectable
 Wire Sizing
• Proper wire sizing depends on the current to be
carried by the wire
• For applications having low voltages (such as PV),
wire sizing depends on the
➢ length of the wire
➢ resulting voltage drop
• To find exact length
➢ Finish the layout of the system first
➢ Tabulate the lengths of various wire runs along with the
allowable voltage drops
• Calculate required resistance per 1000 feet (kft) of
wire to keep the wire voltage drop within allowable
limits (given in %)
• Correct wire size is the larger of, either the size
needed to carry the rated current (or) the size needed
to meet system voltage drop constraints
• Array ISC current is multiplied by 1.25 to obtain the
maximum current from array to charge controller
• to allow for cloud focusing/ edge cloud effect/ reflected
radiation
• Increased ISC due to increase in cell temperature beyond
25°C
(~ 0.1%/°C)
• This maximum array current is then multiplied by
another factor of 1.25 (as required by the NEC for
continuous operation) (1.25 * 1.25 = 1.56)
• Wire sizes are then chosen to meet the ampacity
requirement
• Ampacity : The current in amperes that a conductor can
carry continuously under the conditions of use without
exceeding its temperature ratings
• The wiring of PV source circuits and PV output
circuits must thus be capable of carrying 1.56 ISC
• The ampacities are for not more than three current-
carrying conductors in conduit at an ambient
temperature of 30°C or less
• If more than three current-carrying conductors are in a
conduit, or if the conductors are operated in an
ambient that exceeds 30°C, their ampacity must be
derated (between 0.33 to 0.58, depending on various
factors)
• Ampacities for single conductors in free air are higher
than those listed above
AWG

• Slide the wire, from outside AWG (flip side) in

the gage, into a slot. When mm
the wire fits snugly in a slit
(in this picture, 22 gauge),
but doesn't go into the round
hole, you've found the gauge
of the wire
• The NEC requires that the total voltage drop in
feeder and branch circuits be less than 5%, with
the drop in either feeder or branch circuit limited
to no more than 3%
• A feeder circuit is a circuit that provides power
to an electrical distribution panel
• The branch circuits are the circuits that provide
power to the individual electrical loads, such as
lighting, refrigerators, dishwashers, air
conditioners, etc., that are connected to the
distribution panel
• A circuit consists of wire in both directions
➢A load located 50 feet from a battery will need 100
feet of wire to carry the current to and from the load

If ‘d’ is the distance from source to load, ‘Vs’ is

the source voltage and ‘Ω’ is the resistance for kft,
the percent voltage drop (%VD) in the wire is thus
given by

%VD
• A 20-watt, 12-VDC fluorescent lamp is located 50
feet from a 12 V battery. Specify the wire size
needed to keep the voltage drop between battery
and lamp under 2%
• Determine the load current using I = P/V
(20W/12V) = 1.67 A
• Solve for:

• From Table, #12 wire has too much resistance,

so use #10 which gives 1.21 Ω/kft
• Check whether Actual voltage drop will be
within 2%, using = 1.68%
• Although #10 wire will carry 40 amperes, the
current in the circuit is limited to 1.67 amperes
due to the voltage drop problem
➢Be aware of the need for larger wire in low voltage
systems
• For concealed wiring, the minimum wire size
is #14
• Smaller wire sizes are normally used only for
portable cords or for attaching single loads.
 Fuse Sizing
• Fuse to be installed in series with the module
• Fuse value is generally very close to 1.25× 1.25×
ISC = 1.56× ISC
• It is then necessary to check that the wire size is
adequate to carry the fuse current
• Above step not necessary for short runs of wire
selected on the basis of voltage drop
considerations
• For surge loads, the wire size should be
increased to carry 125% of the maximum current
expected, whether it is from array to controller,
controller to battery or from controller to loads
• All fuses or circuit breakers used must be
rated for DC use if they are to be used on DC
• Fuses or circuit breakers in the line to the
battery system must be located close to the
batteries in order to provide protection to
both batteries and the wiring from battery to
controller
• Fuses in other lines are normally located at
or near the controller
 Codes &
Standards
PV Array, Control
and
Isolation
RCD
• Residual current device
 RCD
• Residual-current device (RCD), or residual-current
circuit breaker (RCCB)
• It is an electrical wiring device that disconnects a
circuit whenever it detects that the electric current is
not balanced between the energized conductor (phase)
and the return neutral conductor
• Such an imbalance may indicate current leakage
through the body of a person who is grounded and
accidentally touching the energized part of the circuit
• It is designed to disconnect quickly enough to prevent
injury caused by such shocks
• It is otherwise commonly known as a Ground Fault
Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI)
or an Appliance Leakage Current Interrupter (ALCI)
 Net metering
• Net metering allows residential and commercial
customers who generate their own electricity
from solar power to feed electricity they do not
use back into the grid.
• For example, if a residential customer has a PV system on
the home's rooftop, it may generate more electricity than the
home uses during daylight hours.
• If the home is net-metered, the electricity meter will run
backwards to provide a credit against what electricity is
consumed at night or other periods where the home's
electricity use exceeds the system's output. Customers are
only billed for their "net" energy use. On average, only 20-
40% of a solar energy system’s output ever goes into the
grid. Exported solar electricity serves nearby customers’
loads.
 How advantageous?
• Giving Customers Control Over Their Electricity Bills -
By producing electricity during day than they
consume; net metering allows them to export that
power to the grid and reduce their future electric bills.
• Creating Jobs & Encouraging Private Investment - Net
metering increases demand for solar energy systems,
which in turn creates jobs for the installers,
electricians, and manufacturers who work in the solar
supply chain.
• Protecting the Electric Grid - By encouraging
generation near the point of consumption, net
metering also reduces the strain on distribution
systems and prevents losses in long-distance
electricity transmission and distribution.