TRANSFORMER SIZING FACTOR FOR SOLAR PV POWER PLANTS

TRANSFORMER SIZING FACTOR FOR SOLAR

PV POWER PLANTS

V.R V

This Article Mainly Focusing on the Sizing Factor of Transformer for the Solar Plant
Application. Of course Power Plant needs Step-up Transformer, But While Sizing of
Transformer needs more valuable inputs according to the Inverter and Size of the
Power Plant.

Definition of Transformer:

Transformer is a static Device, It transforms Power From one source to another

Source without Changing Frequency.Transformer always Unity Power Factor Device.
It doesn't have lagging and leading Power Factor. Mainly Transformer Power Factor
depends Load Power Factor.

Transformers are categorized according to the Application.

I) Step-up Transformer

II) Step-Down Transformer

III) Auto-Transformer

IV) Booster Transformer

V) Furnace - Duty Transformer

VI) Zig-Zag Transformer

Factors to Consider to Sizing Inverter Transformer:-

I) Power Factor:

Solar Inverters are rated for unity power factor. So Sizing of Transformer should
based on unity power factor, It should not done with 0.8 pf level. Earlier in India,
Most of the PV Plants having Transformer rated with 0.8pf. According to the 0.8pf
Transformer rated as 1.25% as more which is costing as high.

Major Advantage in Solar PV Plant is Inverter, which is delivers power at unity power
factor. If Inverter Capacity is rated for 1000kw, then your transformer also rated for
1000kVA, It couldn't sized to 1250kVA.

II) Loading Capacity:

1 de 4
TRANSFORMER SIZING FACTOR FOR SOLAR PV POWER PLANTS

While finalizing Contract to the Inverter Vendor, Client insist vendor to give Test
Report for Inverter Loading Capacity at different loading period. Normally In India,
Solar radiaton is more in February to June. So Inverter will have more efficient to
work during Feb to June. It reaches the Maximum power as per Name Plate. But it is
not continuous duty. i.e It will stand to deliver power in Minutes of Time during Peak
Energy Generation.

Example: If Inverter having 1000kw capacity, it will deliver maximum power of 950
to 960kW, when solar radiation is peak [March Month having more yield in India].

Transformer Loading Capacity is 95% according to IEC & IS Standards, But most of
the people having wrong idea is that, Transformer Loading Capacity is 80%. When
Transformer reaches more than 95% of its rated capacity, Master Trip Relay
automatically give trip signal to the Breaker. According to 1MVA Transformer, 95%
loading will be 950kVA, Inverter never reaches the name plate rating. So the best way
of Transformer Ratio will be

Inverter Rating of 1kVA = Transformer Rating of 1kVA

III) Transformer Losses:

Transformer losses depending upon its rated capacity of Transformer. Higher Rating
of Transformer having Higher losses, When the Designer implemented the Design of
1250kVA transformer for 1000kW Inverter, the losses of the system will increase due
to the higher rating of Trafo. [Here Transformer rating based on 0.8pf, It's not correct
Design for the PV Plants]

Here I mentioned Load & No-Load losses of Transformer according to CBIP Norms.

For 11 / 0.433 kV 1000 kVA Transformer

Load Losses : 10.4 KW & No-Load Losses : 1.4 KW

For 11 / 0.433 kV 1250 kVA Transformer

Load Losses : 14 KW & No-Load Losses : 2 KW

LARGE SCALE PV PROJECTS [> 5MW]

Large Scale PV Projects say more than 5MW, Separate Power Evacuation System will
come into the Picture. Normally Switchyard is needed for the Large Scale PV Projects.
Now Again it needed strong technical input while Sizing of Power Transformer for the
higher size PV Plants. Here I mentioned following Valid points according to this
subject.

Here Power Transformer Should Sized with 0.8 pf. for Example if PV Plant Size is 5
MW, Then Power Transformer Size should be 6.3 MVA.

2 de 4
TRANSFORMER SIZING FACTOR FOR SOLAR PV POWER PLANTS

We aware Pnom Ratio of PV Plant should be 1 : 0.85, According to this fundamental,

If we implementing 5MW of Module Capacity, Actual AC output will be 4.25MW in
Tyre - I Distribution. If we implemented with 6.3 MVA Transformer will cater 6MW of
PV Panel Capacity. i.e In Future you didn't need to change your swithcyard
Configuration, Main Advantage is that you only need to change in Tyre - I
Distribution. Adding 1MW of Inverter with the existing cluster [Mostly
Configuration had RMG Connection]. I developed scheme according to this
subject for Easy Reference.

Option - I [PV Panel Capacity : 5MW, Power Transformer : 6.3 MVA]

Option - II [PV Panel Capacity : 6MW, Power Transformer : 6.3 MVA]

Precautions Need to Design PV Plant with Switch yard Design:

3 de 4
TRANSFORMER SIZING FACTOR FOR SOLAR PV POWER PLANTS

Model - II is applicable if land available to adapt addition of 1MW of PV paanel

Capacity, Otherwise this option is not efficient. In case Developer having land for
5MW, then he need to complete the Power Evacuation System with 5MVA
Transformer of 33kV Class. [In some states in India, having 66kV Transmission
System]

Here the doubt is Why Again need Power Transformer of 5MVA for the Switchyard, if
the whole system having 33kV Transmission??

If your PV Plant far away from the local Substation, then it will experiences voltage
drop, finally it causes more losses for your whole system during transmission. To
avoid that, Better to placing 5 MVA 33 / 33 KV Transformer with ON-Load Tap
Changer will reduce the losses some part. In Tamil Nadu one of the Existing PV Plant
had the above configuration which I said.

4 de 4