Chapter 4

PV System Components and Configurations

Expected Objective
After completing this
Chapter, you should be
able to understand various
types of PV system
components and
configurations
 Photovoltaic System
The combination of all components and subsystems for converting the
solar energy into electrical energy that is suitable for connection to a
utilization load.

energy load
source inversion &
conditioning utilization

PV Array
Inverter energy
load
Charger distribution
center
Controller
energy
conversion

electric
energy utility
storage battery network
 PV System Configurations

• The configuration depends on the type of PV system

• PV systems are generally divided into
three major categories:
– grid–connected (also known as grid - tied )
systems that are interfaced to an electricity grid;
– stand-alone (off grid) systems that are self -
contained.
– Hybrid system
 Grid-Connected System
• The main components for
a grid-connected system
is PV modules, grid-
inverter and energy
meter
• Inverter will convert from
DC voltage into AC
voltage
• Use two energy meters:
PV meter and
consumption meter
4
Grid-Connected System
Grid-Connected System

6
 Arrangement of grid-connected
PV systems
• Type of grid inverter
– Central inverter
– String inverter
– Multi string inverter
– Modular inverter
Central Inverter
Use one inverter for the whole PV array
Generally used for a large system
(>10kWp)
String Inverter
Connected across on string of PV modules.
Generally used for in small systems ranging from 1kWp
to 11kWp.
 Multi-String Inverter
Using only one inverter but has a number of MPPT inputs
The advantage of this inverter: it still can produce higher power
output although the strings are facing at different direction
Modular Inverter
• Modular inverters
(micro-inverters) are
small transformer-less
inverter
• Normally it is designed
to be mounted on the
back of the PV module
 PV Stand-alone Systems
• PV stand-alone systems (off-grid system) are typically used
when there is no electric grid or the costs for connecting to a
grid are too high.
• Various stand-alone PV schemes are possible, depending on
the application:
– Without battery storage or inverter
– With battery storage, without inverter.
– With inverter, without battery storage.
– With inverter and battery storage.
 PV Stand-alone Systems

Structure of a simple PV stand-alone

system
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Simple PV stand-
alone system
 PV System Components
• PV Array: An electrical assembly of PV modules that convert sunlight to DC
electricity.
• Energy Storage: Electrical or other storage devices sometimes used to store
energy produced by PV arrays for later consumption.
• Inverter: A device that converts DC power from batteries or PV arrays into utility-
grade AC power.
• System Charge Controller: A device used to protect batteries from overcharge and
over discharge, and sometimes to provide load control functions.
• Load: Energy consuming electrical appliances served by the system.
• Balance of System (BOS) Components: Other equipment required to control,
conduct, protect, distribute power and structurally support the system.
 Energy Storage
• Battery – commonly used for storing electrical energy
• Common type of rechargeable battery
 Lead acid, nickel metal hydride, lithium-ion, lithium-
polymer nickel cadmium and so on
• Lead acid batteries are used almost exclusively in PV
system due to more cost effective and readily
available.
• Battery Capacity – amount of energy that a battery
can store (unit: amp-hours (Ah))
 Batteries

Batteries are
collections of cells
that produce
electricity through
electrochemical
reactions. Cells can
be configured into
batteries of many
different shapes and
sizes.
Batteries
 Battery
A battery cell consists of a set
of positive and negative plates
immersed in an electrolyte
solution.
A plate is an electrode
consisting of active material
supported by a grid framework.
Active material is the
chemically reactive compound
on a battery cell plate
Batteries in Series Connection
Connecting batteries in series increases
system voltage.
• If batteries or cells with
• For batteries of similar
capacity and voltage
connected in series, the
circuit voltage is the sum
of the individual battery
voltages, and the circuit
capacity is the same as
the capacity of the
individual batteries.
different capacities are
connected in series, the
capacity of the string is
limited by the lowest-
capacity battery.
Batteries in Parallel Connecting batteries in parallel increases
system capacity.

• The current of the parallel

circuit is the sum of the
currents from the
individual batteries.
• The voltage across the
circuit is the same as the
voltage across the
individual batteries, and
the overall capacity is the
sum of the capacities of
each battery
Batteries in Series and Parallel
Series and parallel connections can
be combined to produce a desired
system voltage level and capacity.
• For PV systems with large
capacity requirements, larger
batteries allow configurations
of one series string rather than
several parallel strings.
• When batteries must be
configured in parallel, the
connections between the
battery bank and the PV power
system should be made from
opposite sides of the battery
bank to improve the
equalization of charge and
discharge from the bank.
 Charge Controller
• Function – to regulate the voltage and
current coming from solar array to the
battery
• Preventing from overcharging which
causes plate corrosion, gassing and loss
of liquid
• Preventing from deep discharging or
discharging below their cut-off voltage
which might cause permanent damage to
the battery and loss of capacity
 Type of charge controller
1. Series-type controllers:
o rely on relays or electronic switches in series between the PV
module and the battery.
o Disconnect the PV module when the battery reaches a set voltage
2. Shunt-type controllers: parallel between the array and battery
o Gradually reduce power from the PV module to the battery as the
battery reaches full charge (short-circuiting back through the
module)
o Low cost, simple, well suited for small off-grid PV systems
 Type of charge controller
3. Pulse-width modulation (PWM) controllers:
o Send pulse of charges of charge to the battery that vary
depending on its state of charge (SOC).
o Battery with low SOC gets a wide pulse (high charge) and send
increasingly narrow pulse as the battery gets fully charged.
4. Maximum power point tracker (MPPT) controller
o Track for the maximum power point of the solar array and
convert the extra power available (in the extra voltage) to
provide extra current at the battery charge voltage.
 Charge Controller

Charge controllers
protect batteries in
PV systems from
overcharge or
excessive discharge.
Charge Controllers
Charge controllers manage interactions and energy flows between a
PV array, battery, and electrical load.
 Inverter
• Convert lower voltage DC electricity
into higher voltage AC.
• PV array and inverter interface:
– Stand-alone system
– Grid-connected system
 Inverter for Stand-alone system
• Two ways that the inverter can be used in stand-
alone systems:
– Small inverter to power a single appliance
– Larger inverter to power entire circuits
• Typically about 90% efficiency
• Available in sizes ranging from 50W to
thousands of watts
 Inverter for Grid-connected system
• All grid-connected inverters perform these basic functions:
– Convert DC from array to AC power and fed to the grid
– Ensure power being fed into the grid is at the appropriate frequency
and voltage. Otherwise it will not release the electricity to the grid.
– Use MPPT to ensure that the inverter is finding the maximum power
available from the PV array to convert to AC
– Inbuilt active and passive safety protections to ensure that the
inverter itself down when the grid is not operating within acceptable
voltage and frequency tolerances
 Inverter for Grid-connected system
Type of grid inverters may be different in a number of
ways:
• With transformer or without transformer
• Switching frequency of the transformer used
• How the array and inverter interface with each other
• The inverter’s rated capacity
• Whether the input has a single or multiple string inputs
• Whether it is designed for single phase or multiple phase power
supplies
Variety of Inverters

Inverters are
available in many
different
configurations and
ratings.
 Choosing Inverter
• Type of inverter: grid-tied or stand-alone system
• Inverter Size (power rating)
• Input Voltage
– Stand-alone : depend on system voltage (12V, 24V, 48V….)
– Grid-connected: allowable input voltage ranges of the inverter

• Efficiency
• Safety and protection
 Balance of System (BOS)
• The BOS components include mounting materials for the
modules, wire and all wiring components, lightning protectors,
grounding connections, combiner box and battery containers.
• Protection components: Circuit breaker, fuses, isolators,
switch, Surge protective device, diodes (blocking and bypass)
• Other important components: energy meter, system
monitoring
 BOS
• Certain BOS components are regulated by codes or standards.
–Array mounts, for example, must meet any wind loading
requirements of applicable building codes (in Malaysia:
MS1553 – code of practice on wind loading for building
structure)
–Cable sizes, voltage drop, protection devices, etc.. must
comply with the standards (eg: Malaysian Standard
MS1837:2010)
 Thank you…
Next… Part 2 ….
• More detail about battery – The characteristics
• Inverter – What is the different between stand-alone and grid-
connected inverter
• MPPT – How to boost power generation
• PV Cable
• Metering
• Protection devices
• Switch and disconnector
• Junction box
• Complete system wiring
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