Solar System Design

• Load Analysis
• System Sizing
• Battery Sizing
• Total Number of PV Modules
• Solar Module Structure
• Balancing Components
 Load Estimation

• By load estimation, we mean the total load used at a certain time

during the sunlight
• Load estimation is the energy consumed by the household load
during the day
• We determine the total load used by multiplying the power of a
load with the number of hours that load is run
• There are two ways of load estimation; load analysis and units
analysis
 Load Analysis
• In load analysis, we calculate the power and energy consumption in one
day!
• In the load analysis, we consider two things: the power of a load (Watts)
and the number of hours that load runs during a day
• The product of power and hours gives us energy of a load consumed in a
day, calculated in Watt-hours
• In load analysis, the energies consumed by all the loads in the house or
building are summed
• The energy of all appliances is the total energy consumption of the house
or building
• Load Analysis is mostly used for designing Off-Grid and Hybrid
Systems
This a random table of different appliances in a house and random number
of hours these loads are run during the day. The power of appliances are
fixed but in some appliances which draw surge current, the power is
considered greater than the rated power (e.g. for a Fan, the rated power is
75W but we consider it to be 100W)
No of Power that a No of Hours Energy
S. No. Appliances Appliances Load Consumes that a Load runs Consumed by
(W) (h) the Load (Wh)
1 LED Bulbs 15 15W 2 450Wh
2 Fans 7 100W 5 3500Wh
3 LED TV 1 50W 3 150Wh
4 Motor 1HP 1 1000W 2 2000Wh
5 Fridge 1 1200W 4 4800Wh
2355W 10900Wh

The energy consumed in a day is 10900Wh = 10.9kWh = 10.9

units
 Units Analysis
• In load analysis, we consider the energy or units consumed in one
day!
• For this calculation, we review the electricity bill which mentions
units consumed every month in a year
• In WAPDA electricity bills, a table is given which shows units
consumed in the bill month and previous 11 months
• The units consumed in every month of the year are added and then
divided by 365 for average units consumed in a day
• Units Analysis is mostly used for designing On-Grid Systems
• Units Analysis is a more accurate method of load estimation than
load analysis
 S.No Month Units Consumed
1 January 186
2 February 159
3 March 134
4 April 219
5 May 311
6 June 604
7 July 780
8 August 687
9 September 586
10 October 229
11 November 145
12 December 436
Total 4476

Average Daily Units Consumed = 4476/365 = 12.26 Units = 12.26kWh

 Peak Sun Hours

• Peak Sun Hours is the number of hours that the Sun is at it’s peak in
the sky
• Peak Sun Hours is abbreviated as PSH
• PSH is different for different location in the world and is dependent
upon the latitude
• Usually PSH for Pakistan is considered as 5.5 Hours
• But for our calculations, we will consider PSH as 5 hours for ease of
calculations and as a precaution
 Derating Factor
• The derating factor is the losses
which occur converting DC
Derating Factors Input Values Typ. Range
power to AC power PV module nameplate DC rating 0.900 .80 - 1.05
• The losses are given in the table Tilt Factor / Orientation Adjusatment 1.000 .50 - 1.00
Inverter 0.940 .88 - .96
below and they are collectively Mismatch 0.980 .97 - .995
referred to as the derating Diodes and connections 0.995 .99 - .997
factor DC wiring 0.980 .97-.99
AC wiring 0.990 .98 - .993
• We consider the overall Soiling 0.900 .30 - .995
System availabilty 0.980 0.995
derating factor to be 0.75 Shading 0.850 1
• To offset calculations, we Sun-tracking
Age
1.000
0.950
.95 - 1.00
.70 - 1.00
divide by the derating factor Overall DC to AC derate factor 0.570 .60 - .75
(0.75) or by multiplying by the
loss factor 1.3
 System Sizing without Batteries
• The system sizing is done by dividing daily energy consumption by
peak sun hours and multiplying the result by the loss factor 1.3
• The losses (losses in PV panels, DC wiring and inverter efficiency
losses) turn out to be 30%
• So to offset the losses and properly design the system, the result is
multiplied by 1.3

PV Array Size (W) = x 1.3

to offset losses
 Design the system for the following load….

No of Power that a No of Hours Energy

S. No. Appliances Appliances Load Consumes that a Load runs Consumed by
(W) (h) the Load (Wh)
1 LED Bulbs 15 15W 2 450Wh
2 Fans 7 100W 5 3500Wh
3 LED TV 1 50W 3 150Wh
4 Motor 1HP 1 1000W 2 2000Wh
5 Fridge 1 1200W 4 4800Wh
2355W 10900Wh

Consider PSH to be 5 hours and losses factor to be 1.3

 Daily Units Consumed = = 10.9 kWh

PV Array Size = x 1.3

PV Array Size = 2.834 kW

We can round of the system size to 3 kW

PV Array Size = 3 kW
Design the system for the following load….
S.No Month Units Consumed
1 January 186
2 February 159
3 March 134
4 April 219
5 May 311
6 June 604
7 July 780
8 August 687
9 September 586
10 October 229
11 November 145
12 December 436
Total 4476
 Daily Units Consumed = = 12.26 kWh

PV Array Size = x 1.3

PV Array Size = 3.1876 kW

We can round of the system size to 3.3 kW

PV Array Size = 3.3 kW

 Battery Sizing
• Battery sizing depends on the appliances or load that need back up
• Battery sizing also depends on the hours of back up that is required
Power that Hours that a Energy Back up Total Back
S. Appliances No of a Load Load runs Consumed Hours of a up a needed
No Appliances Consumes (h) by the Load Load (h) for a Load
(W) (Wh) (Wh)

1 LED Bulbs 15 15W 2 450Wh 3 675Wh

2 Fans 7 100W 5 3500Wh 3 2100Wh
3 LED TV 1 50W 3 150Wh 3 150Wh
4 Motor 1HP 1 1000W 2 2000Wh -
5 Fridge 1 1200W 4 4800Wh -
2355W 10900Wh 2925Wh
 Battery Sizing (Ah) =

Battery Voltage is can be 12 V, 24 V or 48 V

Battery Sizing (Ah) =

Battery Sizing (Ah) = 121.875 Ah

We can round off battery size to nominal battery size available e.g. 150 Ah

Battery Sizing (Ah) = 150 Ah

So, 2 batteries of 150Ah, 12V each in series to make it 150Ah, 24V

 System Sizing With Battery
For system sizing with battery, daily units consumed is the sum of total
energy consumed by the load and total back up for a load

Power that Hours that a Energy Back up Back up

S. No of a Load Load runs Consumed Hours of a needed for a
No Appliances Appliances Consumes (h) by the Load Load (h) Load (Wh)
(W) (Wh)

1 LED Bulbs 15 15W 2 450Wh 3 675Wh

2 Fans 7 100W 5 3500Wh 3 2100Wh
3 LED TV 1 50W 3 150Wh 3 150Wh
4 Motor 1HP 1 1000W 2 2000Wh -
5 Fridge 1 1200W 4 4800Wh -
2355W 10900Wh 2925Wh
 Daily Units Consumed = = 13.825 kWh

PV Array Size = x 1.3

PV Array Size = 3.5945 kW

We can round of the system size to 3.6 kW

PV Array Size = 3.6 kW

Why do you think the battery back up is considered while designing the
solar system?
We want the batteries to be charged by solar energy!
 Design a Hybrid solar system for the following load….
Power Energy
S. that a No of Hours that Consumed Back up Back up
No Appliances Load Appliances a Load runs by the Load Hours of a needed for a
Consumes (h) (Wh) Load (h) Load (Wh)
(W)
1 LED Bulbs 15W 25 5 1875Wh 10 ?
2 Fans 100W 12 5 6000Wh 10 ?
3 LED TV 50W 2 5 500Wh 7 ?
4 Motor 1.5HP 1500W 2 2 6000Wh - -
5 Fridge 1200W 1 5 6000Wh - -
Inverter Air-
6 Conditioner 1200W 2 5 12000Wh 5 ?
1 Ton

Consider 15 LED Bulbs, 6 Fans, 1 LED TV and 1 Air-Conditioner for Back Up

 Power Energy
S. that a No of Hours that Consumed Back up Back up
No Appliances Load Appliances a Load runs by the Load Hours of a needed for a
Consumes (h) (Wh) Load (h) Load (Wh)
(W)
1 LED Bulbs 15W 25 5 1875Wh 10 2250Wh
2 Fans 100W 12 5 6000Wh 10 6000Wh
3 LED TV 50W 2 5 500Wh 7 350Wh
4 Motor 1.5HP 1500W 2 2 6000Wh - -
5 Fridge 1200W 1 5 6000Wh - -
Inverter Air-
6 Conditioner 1200W 2 5 12000Wh 5 6000Wh
1 Ton
32375Wh 14600Wh
 Battery Sizing

Battery Sizing (Ah) =

Battery Sizing (Ah) = 304.16 Ah

Battery Sizing (Ah)  300 Ah

So, 8 batteries of 150Ah, 12V each with two string of 4, connected in

parallel to make 300Ah, 48V
 PV Array Sizing

Daily Units Consumed = = 46.975 kWh

PV Array Size = x 1.3

PV Array Size = 12.2135 kW

PV Array Size  12 kW
Design an On-Grid solar system for the following load….

S.No Month Units Consumed

1 January 3087
2 February 1857
3 March 972
4 April 769
5 May 2009
6 June 2235
7 July 1411
8 August 1020
9 September 1861
10 October 2873
11 November 3037
12 December 3091
S.No Month Units Consumed
1 January 3087
2 February 1857
3 March 972
4 April 769
5 May 2009
6 June 2235
7 July 1411
8 August 1020
9 September 1861
10 October 2873
11 November 3037
12 December 3091
24222
Daily Units Consumed = = kWh

PV Array Size = x 1.3

PV Array Size = 17.25 kW

PV Array Size = 17 kW
 Assignment

Design Solar system for YOUR home using both

Load analysis and Units analysis
 Total number of PV Modules
• The total number of PV modules depends upon the total PV array size and
the rating of the PV modules available.
• If the total array size is 10kW, the number of PV modules in case of 250W
modules and 330W modules is given as:

= 40 PV modules

= 30 PV modules

The formula for calculating the total number of panels is given by:

Total number of PV modules =

 In case of fraction or odd number….

• In case the ratio of PV array size and Watt rating of a PV module is

a fraction or a value in decimals, it is good practice to round off to
the higher value
• For example, if the number of PV modules comes out to be 41.4,
round off to 42 modules
• If, however, the higher value is an odd number, then it is better to
round off to the lesser even number or the higher even number
• If say the number of PV modules comes out to be 20.8, it is better to
round off to 20 or 22
• This is because in parallel connections, two or more strings can
only be connected in parallel if they have the same number of
modules
• In a connection with more than 2 parallel connections, the total
number of panels must be divisible by the number of parallel
connections
• If we connect 3 strings in parallel then the total number of
modules must be divisible by 3
• For example, 30 panels can be connected in a parallel connection
of 3, with each string consisting of 10 panels, but 40 panels cannot
be connected in a parallel connection!
 Solar Module Structure
• Similar to PV module, the number of module structures depends upon the
total number of PV modules in an array
• Solar structure also depends upon the construction of the roof, area of the
roof and other factors such as wind speed
• The type of solar structure must be selected (L-2, L-3, L-4 or other) and
then it is divided by the total number of panels of the array
• For, a PV array of 30 panels, 10 L-3 solar structures would be used

Number of solar structures =

 In case of a fraction….

• If the total number solar structures comes out to be in fraction, then

subtract the highest possible number divisible by solar structure size
and fit the remaining modules appropriately
• If the number of total PV modules is 40, and we use L-3 solar
structures, the highest possible number divisible by 3 is 39 (which
leave 1 modules)
• As = 13, so we can used 13 L-3 solar structures and fit 1 module
separately
• Or we can use 12 L-3 solar structures and 1 L-4 solar structure
Completely design an On-Grid solar system using the following load,
considering we use 350W PV modules and L-4 solar structures….
S.No Month Units Consumed
1 January 29760
2 February 32320
3 March 23520
4 April 30080
5 May 37920
6 June 42880
7 July 60480
8 August 73280
9 September 55200
10 October 49120
11 November 30880
12 December 24480
S.No Month Units Consumed
1 January 29760
2 February 32320
3 March 23520
4 April 30080
5 May 37920
6 June 42880
7 July 60480
8 August 73280
9 September 55200
10 October 49120
11 November 30880
12 December 24480
Total 489920
 PV Array Sizing

Daily Units Consumed = = kWh

PV Array Size = x 1.3

PV Array Size = 348.985 kW

PV Array Size  350 kW

 System Sizing
If the Watt rating of the solar modules we use in this system is 350W,

Total number of PV modules =

Total number of PV modules =

Number of solar structures =

Number of solar structures =

End of the 5 Class
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