• K.N.

Chandra Bose
• Asso.Professor
Syllabus 04 EE 6308 • Electrical Engg. Dept.
• Govt. Engg. College, Idukki
 MODULE - IV

Stand alone PV system configuration

Design of PV powered DC fan and pump without battery – Design

of stand alone system with Battery and AC or DC Load.

A grid interactive PV system – phase, frequency matching and

voltage consideration – operation of a grid interactive Inverter –
Protection against Islanding and reverse power flow – AC modules
– Design of EMI filters.
Classification of solar PV system?
Types of PV solar systems

 Stand-Alone Systems

 Operated autonomously off-grid.

 Typically use batteries for energy storage.

 Sizing is based on electrical loads.

 Interactive Systems

 Operate in parallel with the electric utility grid.

 Intended to supplement site energy use from

utility.

 Operation is independent of electrical loads.

 Do not use batteries (generally) or backup for

utility power.
What is stand alone PV solar system?

 Stand-alone Photovoltaic system is one that is not

designed to send power to the utility grid.

 Thus does not require a grid-tie inverter (but it may

still use grid power for backup).
Direct coupled Stand alone power system

 Direct coupled systems – Most basic type.

 DC load is matched and directly connected.

 Uses no energy storage.

 Operates only when sun is shining.

 In detail a stand-alone power system (SAPS or SPS),
also known as remote area power supply (RAPS), is an
off-the-grid electricity system.

 Typical SAPS include one or more methods of electricity

generation, energy storage, and regulation.
 Stand-alone systems can range from a simple DC load
that can be powered directly from the PV module to ones
that include battery storage, an ac inverter, or a backup
power supply.

 Stand-alone systems can have a DC or AC output, which

is determined based on the load requirements.
Stand alone power system with Battery

 Most systems uses batteries to store energy as required by

loads.

 A self regulating PV system does not use charge control,

but the battery is susceptible to overcharge and over
discharge.
 The most common output voltages for small systems are
12 V, 24 V, 48 V and higher used with larger systems.

 As in the case of any electrical system, national electrical

codes and general electrical safety rules, including
manufacturer’s recommendations for wire size,
grounding, and required environment for the various
components, need to be followed.
 Stand alone PV system configuration

 The heart of a solar electrical system is the PV module,

which needs to be able to provide power for the loads in
the system and to charge batteries when they are used for
backup power.
 The module selected depends on the load requirements
and the batteries used.

 For a 12 V system, the PV module needs to provide about 20 V

to charge batteries reliably. For a 24 V system, the PV module
should provide 40 V.
 It regulates the voltage and current coming from the solar
panels going to the battery.

 Most 12 Volt panels deliver about 16 to 20 volts, so if there is

no regulation the batteries will be damaged from
overcharging.

 Most batteries need around 14 to 14.5 volts to get fully

charged.
 Charging of Lead Acid Battery

 The lead acid battery uses the constant current,

constant voltage (CC/CV) charge method.

 A regulated current raises the terminal voltage until

the upper charge voltage limit is reached, at which
point the current drops due to saturation.
 During the constant-current charge, the battery charges
to about 70% in 5 – 8 hours.

 Remaining 30% is filled with the slower topping charge

that lasts another 7–10 hours.

 The topping charge is essential for the well-being of the

battery
 Configuration

 Stand-alone PV system configuration consists various

conditions which increases the complexity of system. The
power output can range from less than 1 W for a small
calculator to over 10 kW.

 Systems larger than 10 kW are more effective as grid-tie

systems.
System Components Typical Applications

DC ventilation fans, small water pumps such as

PV module and DC circulating pumps for solar thermal water heating
1
load. systems, and other DC loads that do not require
electrical storage.
DC loads that require specific DC voltages but do
PV module, DC/DC not require storage, such as a charging station for
converter (power
2 certain electric vehicles or DC water pumps. This
conditioning), and DC
load. configuration is also useful for miniature
applications such as calculators.
System Components Typical Applications

DC loads that require power even when there is no

PV module, charge solar input, such as small yard lights, traffic
controller/battery
3 warning lights, and buoy power, or mobile and
storage, and DC load.
remote power for recreational vehicles (RVs) and
communication systems.
PV module, charge
controller/battery AC and DC loads, including appliances such as
4
storage, inverter, and refrigerators and lights.
DC and DC loads.
System Components Typical Applications
PV module, charge AC and DC systems where there is large seasonal
controller and battery
storage (optional), variation in solar input. The supplementary power
5 inverter, can be from any other power-generating system
supplementary
such as a wind generator, a gas generator, or the
generation, and DC
and DC loads. utility grid.
Design of PV powered DC fan

 A solar panel produce variable DC voltage directly,

hence some control circuit is needed to stabilize the
variable output voltage from panel.

 There are several versions of solar powered fans in

the market today.
 A Solar DC Fan is a mechanical fan fitted with DC motor
and solar panels that charge up the fan through solar
energy.

 In these fans, the solar panels are either mounted on the

fan body or are attached to it separately.

 Solar DC fans can operate on less energy while

producing a high airflow.
 More economical and energy efficient than regular fans.

 Most models of solar DC fans are designed to run on 12V

and consume around 25-30W.

 BLDC motors are highly reliable, durable, and energy

efficient. They can generate a high amount of torque
with a high-speed range.
 Unlike brushed DC motors, BLDC motors do not require
brushes or a commutator since they are powered up by
permanent magnets.

 The primary parts of a BLDC motor are the rotor

(rotating element) and the stator (stationary element).
 Solar DC fans can be classified into two categories –
- Ceiling fans and

- Tabletop fans.
Solar DC fans without Battery (simplest form)
 To determine the speed of DC fan which run over the
day, need to look at the characteristics of panel and
fan.
 To extract more power from the PV panel, one can
look for a fan whose characteristics matches with
MPP of solar.

 This can possible only by choosing module with

higher current capacity for better MPP match.
Solar DC fans with Battery and control
 Design of PV powered DC Pump

 Can be used for pumping drinking water or irrigation

purpose.

 If battery is not used, the water can be stored in OH tanks

for non-sunshine hours.
 One can design a PV powered DC pump by considering
various aspects in design.
a. Motor directly connected to PV panel.
b. MPPT
c. DC-DC conversion (uses DC motors)
d. DC – AC conversion ( uses AC motors)
e. Storage
f. Cost of circuit design
 For a precise design, we should give more refined attention
while designing pumping system.
1. Daily water requirement (m3/day)
• Size and cost depends on the amount of water required/day.

• This will vary daily and affects seasonal changes.

Hence for reliable design, weekly or monthly average consumption

may be considered.
2. Total dynamic head (TDH in metres)
• Important parameter, signifies the effective pressure at which
the pump must operate. It primarily consists,
1. Total vertical lift and
2. Total frictional losses.
• Vertical lift consists
− Elevation
− Standing water level and
− Drawdown level
• Frictional loss
-is the pressure required to overcome friction in the pipe
from the water pump outlet to the point of discharge.
• Frictional loss depends on many factors
− Size of pipe
− Flow rate
− Type of fittings
− Number of bends etc.
 Overall design can be of five steps as,

Step 1: Determine the amount of water required per day.

Step 2: Determine the TDH for water pumping.

Step 3: Determine the hydraulic energy required/day to pump.

Step 4: check solar radiation available at location (1000W/m2).

Step 5: Determine size and no. of solar modules required, type

of motor, rating, losses and efficiency of motor.
Example

Design a PV water pumping system, which is required to draw

25000 Litres of water per day from a depth of 12m.
Data required are;
water density = 1000kg/m3
gravity = 9.8m/s2
PV module used = 75Wp
operating factor = 0.75
 Pump efficiency = 30%
Mismatch factor = 0.85
Total vertical lift = 12m

Calculation steps:
1. Daily water requirement = 25m3/day
2. Determine TDH,
Vertical lift + Frictional Loss = 12 + 5% of 12 = 12.6m
3. Hydraulic energy required/day = Mass x g x TDH
= Density x Volume x g x TDH
= 1000 x 25 x 9.8 x 12.6 = 857.5 Wh/day.
4. Determine solar radiation data;
= 6hrs/day (peak of 1000w/m2)
5. Determine no. of PV panels and size of pump;
= Total hydraulic energy/no. of hours/day
857.5
= 6
= 142.9𝑊
 Total PV panel wattage
considering system losses = Pump efficiency x Mismatch factor

142.9
= = 560𝑊
0.3 × 0.85

considering operating factor of PV panel;

Total PV panel wattage after loss
= Operating factor

560
= = 747.3𝑊
0.75
 747.3
No. of solar PV panels = = 9.96 = 10 nos.
75

747.3
Power rating of motor = = 1HP
746

Note: If MPPT circuit were used, then its power rating is to be

considered. Typical DC-DC power converter rating is 30% higher than
motor rating and conversion efficiency is around 70%.
 Design of Stand alone PV system with battery
and AC or DC load
 Most of the PV applications require operation of load
during non-sunshine hours and sunshine hours
irrespective of the variation in irradiation.

 This necessitates the use of storage requirement.

 When battery is used, a charge controller is also

required. If loads are AC, then inverter is to be used.
 An MPPT circuit can also be used to optimize the source
utilization.

 Designer needs to determine battery and PV rating for the

given load. Also get energy flow path.
 Actual system design proceeds in the reverse direction of
energy flow.
• First identify load and their requirements. ( Power, time of
operation, energy requirements etc)

• Then battery sizing, power converter sizing, charge controller and

MPPT circuit design followed by PV sizing.
Example

Design a solar PV system with loads consists of CFL, TV,

Fan, Fridge and computer. The system should allow the use
of loads in the non-sunshine hours. The operating hours and
power ratings of each loads are given in table.
Load Wattage Hrs/day Number Watt-Hr
CFL 9 5 2 90
Fan 60 8 1 480
TV 150 2 1 300
Fridge 150 8 1 1200
Computer 250 3 1 750
 Step 1: Load estimation, converter rating & voltage.
− Determining the inverter rating:
− Determining the energy requirement:
− Deciding system voltage
 Step 2: Sizing of Batteries
− Determination of battery capacity for the load
− Autonomy
 Step 3: Sizing of PV Modules
− Daily energy generated by PV
− Determining irradiation level, capacity and number of
panels.
 Step 1: Load estimation, converter rating & voltage.
• Type of load – AC.
• Number of loads
• Power, voltage and current rating of each load
• Hours of load operation in a day
• Energy required per day by the load
• Efficiency of the converters.

 From the table total energy consumed/day is 2820 W-hrs.

 A PV system should be designed for the worst case
scenario, which ensures system reliability. When
considering high reliable system, the cost becomes high.
So a designer should take a decision between reliability
and cost of system.
 Determining the inverter rating:

• Total load energy is supplied from battery to load is

through inverter for AC or converter for DC. Hence
choose proper capacity.

• At output end, inverter or converter should able to handle

the current required by the load.
• Similarly at the input end, the inverter and converter should
able to handle the current taken from battery. Hence in both
the cases, the current and voltage rating at input and output
should be specified.

• Input voltage ranges from 12V to 72V and current from few
ampere to several tens of amperes.

• Output voltage of inverter is 220V or 230V, 50Hz or 60 Hz.

• Hence power ratings of inverter and converter should be
specified in the PV system design. It can be determined from
the total load connected to the system.

Here the total load is 628 watts.

• So select an inverter rating greater than 628W and close to

this value or demand from market.
 Determining the energy requirement:

• Energy requirement is supplied by battery through inverter,

here it is 2820Wh.

• Now consider the conversion efficiency of inverter, which

comes around 90% to 97% for well designed inverter.

If 93% is taken, then energy supplied by the battery to

inverter input should be 2820/0.93 = 3032.25Wh.
 Deciding system voltage:

• The output voltage of inverter and converter is decided by the

voltage at which the load operates. But the input voltage to the
inverter is decided by;
• Battery voltage
• Line current
• Voltage drops and
• Power loss in cable.
 Typically terminal voltage of batteries used in PV system is
12V, and hence solar PV output voltage must be either 12V
or little higher.

[Multiples of 12V can be selected for higher PV system

voltages by connecting in series.]
 Higher PV system voltages should be selected to
minimize power loss and voltage drops in cables. Which
leads to purchase of more number of batteries to meet
the panel voltage.

In our case consider a 24V system voltage.

 Sizing of batteries:

 Sizing of battery mainly depends on,

− Depth of discharge of battery

− Voltage and Ah capacity of battery

− Number of days of autonomy.

 Determining the battery capacity for given load:

 Deep discharge batteries are usually used in PV system

with depth of discharge (DoD) range from 60% to 80%.

In our for a 12 V, 100Ah battery with DoD selected 70%,

then usable Ah is 100*0.7 = 70Ah only.
In our problem, battery voltage is 24V, 100Ah with energy
requirement of 3032.25Wh.

Required charge capacity (Ah) = 3032.25Wh/24V = 126.3Ah.

No. of batteries required would be = 126.3Ah/ (70 Ah) = 1.8.

 Hence need 2 batteries to supply the required charge

capacity and due to this round off some extra Ah is available
to the load (ie 140Ah [70+70] instead of 126.3Ah)
 To meet 140Ah, 2 batteries should be connected in parallel.
Also to meet our 24V, 2 sets in series is to be connected.
Hence we have 2 parallel sets in series.

 If considered 2 days of autonomy, which means 2 days of

backup to the load, the battery bank size should be
increased.

 For 2 days of autonomy, the total charge need to be supplied

by battery bank = 126.3+2*126.3 = 378.9Ah (three times).
 Sizing of PV modules:

 The sizing of PV system is being done in reverse order of

energy flow.

 Parameters to be considered are

− Voltage, current, and wattage of module

− Irradiation level at the location, and time

− Temperature of the module and dust level in the environment.

− Efficiency of MPPT and charge controller unit.

 The energy stored in the battery must be more than the daily
energy consumed for certain autonomy.

 Battery efficiency will vary from 80% to 90%.

 Hence PV module capacity should be designed to supply

only daily energy requirement by the load.

 Due to the efficiency variation, input given to battery must

be greater than output from battery.
 Consider 85% of battery efficiency in our case

Then input energy should be = 3032.25Wh/0.85 = 3567.3Wh

 Input to the battery is through controller & MPPT, hence its

efficiency is to be considered, which comes around 90%.

 Then energy input to the controller circuit will be

3567.3𝑊ℎ
= = 3963.7𝑊ℎ
0.9
 This will be the energy generated by panel, and controller
circuit must able to handle the current developed by panel.

 Voltage handling capacity of the circuit will be same as that

of PV voltage (24V).

 This voltage will be the charging voltage for the battery

bank, and hence panel should supply charging energy at
24V.
 Then the total Ah generated by panel will be
3963.7𝑊ℎ
= = 165.1𝐴ℎ
24 𝑉

 Due to degradation of panel performance, again the Ah to be

produced by the panel will be greater. For the time being
consider this as zero.
 Solar power capacity is measured at an input irradiation of
1000W/m2 and significantly this varies as season changes.

 In India, the peak equivalent sunshine hours available varies

from 5 hours to 7 hours (means 500 to 700W/m2).

For the time being consider 6Hours, then

Total current that can produce by PV is

165.1𝑊ℎ
= = 27.5𝐴
6
 Now it is the time to decide the peak power capacity of
modules, with various power capacities.

 Peak power capacity Wp varies from 5Wp to 300 Wp.

- Here select 75 Wp modules, whose typical value of

voltage and current will be 15V and 5A.

- Now calculate no. of modules required, which is

27.5/5A = 5.5 or 6 module.
These 6 modules should be connected in parallel.

Since 24V is the charging voltage, hence such 2 nos of panel is

required and connect in series.

Total modules = 2*6 = 12 nos. of 75 Wp

 Grid Interactive PV system

 A grid connected system is more reliable and cost effective

system compared to stand-alone system.

 It undergoes very complex design consisting power electronic

converters and conditioners.

 The main objective is to utilize the deficient power required

from solar energy through grid and to fed surplus power to
grid.
 System uses two stages of conditioning of solar power for
feeding into the grid, namely MPPT tracking system, and
inverter system.

 MPPT comprises boost or buck-boost type DC-DC converter

topology.
Two stage grid connected system with boost type DC-DC converter &
DC-AC inverter.
Two stage grid connected system with buck-boost type DC-DC converter & DC-AC
converter in second stage.
 Some grid connected PV systems have more than two stages of
operation, DC-DC conversion, Push-pull converter and DC- AC
converter.

 This mode of topology having draw backs such as

− Higher part count

− Lower efficiency

− Lower reliability

− High cost and lager size

Multistage grid connected PV system