POWER GENERATION (PG-LAB)

Lab# 12 Manual

Submitted to: Faisal

ENGR.KASHIF
Masood SATTAR
HAMZA
Submitted by: Zahir KhanSAFDAR
Section: 20-EE-100
C
Reg#: 20-EE-127
'D'
Group: C

Department of Electrical Engineering (EED)

University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
 Experiment No. 12

Title:

To learn 3D design and implementation of PV solar plants and shading

analysis using Sketchup 3D.

Sketchup
SketchUp is a 3D modeling application that lets solar designers create 2D and 3D models. It is
a program used for a wide range of 3D modeling projects like architecture, interior design,
landscape architecture, solar PV power plants, and video game design, to name a few of its
uses. SketchUp has found a lot of success and popularity amongst solar PV designers, assisting
them in making 3D model mock-ups of their solar power plants. This helps them to assess
shading and analyze site data, while seamlessly using it along with other design simulation
software.
Significance

 It simplifies and enhances the process of creating design concepts by drawing and
editing them in the dedicated 3D suite.
 It supports tools for simulating hand drawing techniques and features automated
adjustment of line weights, dimensions, callouts, and graphics.
 It provides rapid presentation for the customers as they can view everything in rich
3D and visualize the entire solar PV systems illustrating how the solar installation will
appear & integrate on their building properly before going onsite.
 It allows virtual assessments of sites and shadow analysis of PV Plants.
Fig. showing 3D Model basic roof-top PV plant in Sketchup.

Skelion-plugin of SketchUp
SketchUp by itself is mainly a 3D modeling tool with no real solar-specific applications. To
allow SketchUp to help you create 3D models of solar power plants and generate reports, a
plug-in called Skelion is to be used.
Skelion is a downloadable plug-in that designs residential solar installations or ground-
mounted power plants. The industry-wide recognized combination of SketchUp and Skelion
allows reducing the cost of solar design by saving hours of modeling time and helps in making
beautiful and professional presentations and proposals. It consists of different options and
features for 3D modeling, design, and analysis of PV Plants.
 Fig. basic layout of skelion extension of Sketchup

DESIGN OF PV PLANT IN SKETCHUP

Procedure:
1. Open SketchUp pro with skelion plugin downloaded and installed. From the Files tab
select “Create New Model” and choose a template according to the dimensions you
need(meters/inches). Click “Simple( meters)” and create a new model.

2. After creating a new model, from the toolbar go to “Add location” and copy and paste
the longitude and latitude coordinates of geolocation you want to install PV Plant.
3. Select Region from entered location and then click “Import location”. This will add the
location to your SketchUp model. Now Sketchup has the information of site irradiance
level, sun hours and shadow, etc. Right-click on the screen and select “Hide location”.
4. Now you must know the dimensions of the place where you want to install PV Plants
to manually sketch the location. Press “L” or select “Lines” from the toolbar and draw
a rectangular or square section according to the dimensions of the rooftop or location.

5. Select “PUSH/PULL” From the toolbar or press “P” to extrude or 3D view of the
rooftop.
6. Press “O” Or select “OFFSET” from the toolbar and give offset to make boundary wall
on the rooftop and extrude it by “push/pull” command as well.
7. Now select the rooftop and from the skelion toolbar select “insert solar components”.
It will open another window. Select the type of test panel as per your design
requirement and availability and set various parameters like the alignment of panels,
portrait/landscape placement, etc., and enter continue. You can define your own
panel and add it into the database of skelion from settings.

8. After placement of panels, next is shading analysis in SketchUp. SketchUp accurately

calculates the shadow on the site. For the calculation of shade click “Show/hide
shadows” on the topmost corner of the skelion toolbar.

It calculates shade and provides you complete shading information throughout the
year with respect to different months. Similarly, you can change the time of the day
and calculate shadow it any instant of time in any month.
9. Now after shadow calculation the next important part in design optimization is to
reduce shadow and minimize shadow losses as much as possible. For that different
measures are needed, the height of the panels, setbacks are given i.e.
Distance from boundary wall = 1.75 times height of boundary wall
10. Finally, the “face report” and “PVWatss” reports can be generated from the toolbar of
skelion which gives detailed information about the number, type of panels with
shading losses, and system losses.
LESSON LEARNED
After performing this lab, the basic interface, features, and uses of SketchUp are learned and
the designing of 3D models of basic and complex PV Plants using the SKELION plugin is
learned. Virtual site assessment using SketchUp is studied. Furthermore, shading analysis in
skelion is understood and different measures required to minimize shading losses are learned.