PV Excite Design & Install 2 Day solar PV Excite Course An - - PDF document

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PV Excite – Design & Install

2 Day solar PV Excite Course An entry level course for aspirant Designers and Installers that are new to PV systems PQRS Presented by Carel Ballack +27 82 322 2601 carel.ballack@pqrs.co.za

• Presenter: Carel Ballack

– Electrician – Plumbing and gas. – Former Ombudsman for SESSA – Tenders, Project management, Electrical infrastructure, Repairs and maintenance. – Consultant – Training & development for energy sector

2

IntroducXon - Presenter

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• Rubicon / Ellies / ACDC / Herholdts
• Allelec / Voltex
• Yingli / Jinko
• TIA - Test Instruments Africa
• ABB
• PLP
• Dixon
• Schneider
• Enel
• Greensun
• Mustek
• Tesla

3

PQRS - Network

• Green Cape
• Western Cape Government
• Mangosuthu University of Tech.
• Copper Development AssociaXon
• SAAEA
• AssociaXon for Renewable Energy

PracXXoners

• Earthing and Lightning ProtecXon

AssociaXon

• Sustainable Energy Africa

OrganisaXons InsXtuXons and associaXons

• Course rules

– Pin presenter to the screen (Microsoe teams) – Please use the chat box for raising quesXons – Please switch off video to preserve bandwidth

• Have you downloaded any material of interest?

– Generic datasheets (Always the same) – This presentaXon in pdf

• Tea at more or less 10:30 & 15:00

– 15 minutes each

• Lunch at around 12:00 - 12:30

– 30 minutes

4

General Welcome

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• Day 1

– Overview of electricity & some principles – Tools and equipment – Understanding the funcXon of the different products

• Day 2

– Understanding how the products work together – Aeernoon: Small system calculaXon

Programme System sizing when storage is included

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Course process and content

• Solar PV Service Technician

– 1 year qualificaXon – N5 – Entry requirements - NQF Level 4 qualificaXon with mathemaXcs. – Consists of ±344 credits or 3440 noXonal hours – RPL – Keep record of training and installaXons

What about the formal qualificaXon?

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• A Solar Photovoltaic Service (PV) Technician

– Performs maintenance (preventaXve, scheduled, unscheduled)

• n PV systems in compliance with the Department of Energy

and related regulaXons, – Isolates the PV system; – Performs fault finding (trouble-shooXng), – IdenXfies deficiencies; – InformaXon Analyses, – Carries out

• maintenance,
• repairs (including removing and replacing components),

and

• finds soluXons to a range of problems.

Solar PV Service Technician Informal Quality Assurance – Feel Good CerXficaXon

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• PV Green Card vs P4
• P4 is linked to AREP (AssociaXon for Renewable Energy

PracXXoners)

• PV Green Card is linked to SAPVIA

Feel good plaoorms

• Electricity is dangerous.
• The purpose of this training course is to promote the use of

solar, for both electrical & plumbing solar technologies.

• The instructors cannot be held liable for informaXon

presented; or the way in which informaXon has been interpreted through this; or any other training, markeXng or media plaoorm. Please read product instrucXons and comply to manufacturer recommendaXons

• Your feedback is important
• Please complete the feedback form.
• We trust that you will enjoy the course

12

Content Disclaimer & Feedback

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• Leonardo Energy - free online training for engineers (advanced)

hpp://www.leonardo-energy.org

• Assess and determine available solar irradiaXon at a specific venue

hpps://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html#PVP

• Calculate solar systems viability

hpp://www.retscreen.net

• For free training on energy efficiency: Easy to Moderate to Advanced

hpps://www.schneideruniversiXes.com/

• Free Book - Unlimited Energy – Describes how baperies work

hpp://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Book-Energy-Unlimited-EN.pdf

• Free Maths & Science Mastery - Training Plaoorm

hpps://www.khanacademy.org/

13

Supplementary free informaXon

14

Solar Basics

PV technologies Irradia5on Series and parallel config Cable calc. Combiner Boxes PV Fuse calc SPD’s, LPS & Earthing DC vs AC Disconnect Volt drop Inverter Voltage Calcula5ons BaHeries Standards **Energy Efficiency

Pr

**Safety & Cos5ng Off-Grid Moun5ng Structures **Demand & Load assessment

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Tools Required for solar installaXons

• Special tools

– Crimper

• Solar Crimper, PneumaXc crimper

– MulX Meter – Torque wrench – Data Logger

• Usual Tools

– Screw drivers, pliers – Drills, grinders – Step ladders, etc

Tools required

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Basic electricity

• Benjamin Franklin

– Glass & Silk Experiment – Kite experiment

• Electrons

– Charged ‘negaXve’ – Move from areas of abundance to areas of depleXon

• The same principles can be seen in solar modules

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Electron Flow

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• What is Volt?

– Voltage can be explained as being electrical pressure

• What is Amp?

– The movement of current is measured in Amps

• Nominal voltage
• What is Series? See next slide
• What is Parallel? See next slide

Basic Terminology

• Ohm's Law is a formula or range of formulas used to

calculate the relaXonship between voltage, current and resistance in an electrical circuit.

Ohm’s Law

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• Voltage increases and the current stays the same

Series configuraXon

• Current increases and the voltage stays the same

Parallel configuraXon

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• When connecXng in series the voltage is mulXplied by the number of panels to get to the

system voltage.

• The inverter or charge controller needs to be able to operate in the system voltage temp ranges

23

Series ConfiguraXon

Modules in Series Voc Ave. Per cell Module Voc

• 15℃

80℃ 36 Cell X 8 Modules 0,6 21,6 193 144 54 Cell X 8 Modules 0,6 32,4 290 216 60 Cell X 8 Modules 0,6 36 322 240 72 Cell X 8 Modules 0,6 43,2 387 288

Values are es5mated and have been calculated using a temp co-eff. of 0,30%/℃

• Using Branch

connectors

• Same power being

produced as previous slide

• Lower Voltage
• Current X 2 of

a single string

24

Parallel ConfiguraXon

Modules in Series Voc Ave. Per cell Module Voc

• 15℃

80℃ 36 Cell X 4 Modules 0,6 21,6 96 72 54 Cell X 4 Modules 0,6 32,4 145 108 60 Cell X 4 Modules 0,6 36 161 120 72 Cell X 4 Modules 0,6 43,2 193 144

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25

Parallel ConfiguraXon

• Using a combiner box
• Same power being produced

as previous slide

• Offers the advantage of
• individual string

disconnecXon

• Housing for SPD’s

To Inverter

• The power Triangle is a range of formulas clarifying the

difference between Power, Current and Voltage

Power triangle

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Solar & Electrical equipment

• In this secXon
• Electrical Equipment

– Cables – Circuit breakers – Switches & DC Disconnects

• Solar Equipment

– Modules – Baperies – Charge controllers – Loads – Inverters

Solar Equipment

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• A conductor is defined as “an object or type of material

that allows the flow of electrical current in one or more

• direcXons. Different types of metals are commonly used

as electrical conductors.”

Conductors – (Switch to Keynote) Copper, aluminium and steel as Conductors

Copper Aluminium Copper coated steel

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Gold as a conductor

Gold plated copper conductors

Silver as a conductor

In the screen printing of solar cells, silver is mostly used as the conductor of choice

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Tin as a conductor

Tinned copper conductors Looks silver

• Bare Copper Earth Wire
• BCEW is usually used for

earthing and bonding

How copper is used

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How copper is used

• GP cable is used to describe general purpose

conductors, hence the GP denotes “general purpose”. . . . . .this type of conductor is also called house wire and used in most electrical installaXons for the wiring of buildings and homes.

• Twin and earth
• Twin and earth is also regularly used in buildings and

takes preference over GP wire as the live, neutral and earth wires are grouped together in one insulator

How copper is used

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• Surfix or Norsk
• Suffix or norsk cable is usually used where electricians

don't want to use conduit as it already has an addiXonal aluminium shield underneath the insulaXon.

How copper is used

• Armoured cable
• Armoured cable is normally used in slightly more

commercial or industrial applicaXons and usually buried under ground or strapped onto cable trays or wire ways.

How copper is used

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• Where do CB fit?

– DB Boards or other suitable enclosures

• Circuit breakers vs isolators
• Show CB video

Circuit breakers

• System components.
• Solar Module
• Bapery
• Charge controller
• Load
• Inverter

Components (– Switch to Keynote)

Battery Load Inverter Solar Modules Charge Controller

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

40

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Components

Battery Load Inverter Solar Modules Charge Controller

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

• System components.
• Solar Module
• Bapery
• Charge controller
• Load
• Inverter

41

• PV is short for

‘PhotoVoltaic’

• The generaXon of

electricity in a material exposed to light

• Modules

– Different sizes – Generate DC or Direct Current

Components - Solar PV Modules or Panels

42

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• The front and rear

faces of solar modules are different.

Components - Solar PV Modules or Panels

Front or Face White back sheet JuncXon box

43

• There is a posiXve

and negaXve cable connected to the juncXon box

• Each cable has a

coupler

• Couplers would

either be posiXve or negaXve

• Inside most juncXon

boxes, there are bypass diodes

Components – Solar PV Modules or Panels

Diodes

44

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Components

Battery Load Inverter Solar Modules Charge Controller

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

• System components.
• Solar Module
• Bapery
• Charge controller
• Load
• Inverter

45

• 12V Lead-Acid Baperies

– Store electricity in DC or Direct Current and are energy storage devices – Each cap represents 1 cell – Consists of 6 cells – Have posiXve and negaXve terminals – Lead-Acid baperies are sold in Amp-hour capacity, usually denoted with an “Ah” on the side of the bapery

Components - 12 Volt Lead-Acid Baperies

This is a cell 6 cells in a 12V bapery

46

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• The bapery will charge when

connecXng the – posiXve cable from the panel to the posiXve terminal of the bapery – NegaXve cable from the panel to the negaXve terminal of the bapery

• This way of connec5ng is

dangerous because the baHery could over-charge

Charging

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

47

Components

Battery Load Inverter Solar Modules Charge Controller

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

• System components.
• Solar Module
• Bapery
• Charge controller
• Load
• Inverter

48

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• Charge controllers or

regulators protect baperies from

• vercharging
• There are different types

and sizes of charge controllers i.e. MPPT or PWM, 20A, 40A, 60A, 12V, 48V and many more. Some make provision for loads and some don’t.

Components – Charge Controllers

PWM

24V MPPT Charge Controller Charge Controller 12/24V 49

• Provided that the

products are suited to

• ne another, the

bapery can be charged safely as the charge controller may prevent the bapery from being

• vercharged.
• See charge controller

se|ngs for correct configuraXon

Components – Charge Controllers

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

50

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Components

Battery Load Inverter Solar Modules Charge Controller

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

• System components.
• Solar Module
• Bapery
• Charge controller
• Load
• Inverter

51

• How do we connect

loads?

• Loads are components

that consume electrical power.

• Examples of electrical

loads are lights, TV’s, Laptops, other appliances, etc.

• There are AC and DC

loads

Components - Loads

52

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Components

Battery Load Inverter Solar Modules Charge Controller

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

• System components.
• Solar Module
• Bapery
• Charge controller
• Load
• Inverter

53

• Inverters invert DC to

AC

• Although this type of

connecXon can work. It’s not safe. As AC Circuits need some form of protec5on the circuit could also do with some switches, fuses and circuit breakers.

Components - Inverter

+

• Battery

12 Volt 230 Volt Load

DC Supply AC Load

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

54

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• Solar Modules generate DC
• Baperies store DC
• Solar modules can be used to charge

baperies

• Charge controllers protect baperies from

being overcharged through configuraXon

• Inverters use DC to power AC electrical loads
• Electrical loads will cause baperies to

discharge

• Some Inverters can be adjusted to prevent

baperies from discharging completely.

• Take care, read instrucXons and understand

data sheets when considering equipment for a specific solar system.

Component - Summary

Battery Load Inverter Solar Modules Charge Controller

55

Solar Equipment working together

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• Provided that the

products are suited to

• ne another, the

bapery can be charged safely as the charge controller may prevent the bapery from being

• vercharged.
• See charge controller

se|ngs . . . .coming up

Components – Charge Controllers (– Keynote)

• How do we connect

loads?

• Loads are components

that consumes electrical power.

• Examples of electrical

loads are lights, TV’s, Laptops, other appliances, etc.

• There are AC and DC

loads

Components - Loads

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• Inverters invert DC to

AC

• Although this type of

connecXon can work. It’s not safe. AC Circuits need some form of protec5on. The circuit could also do with some switches, fuses and circuit breakers. Coming up . . . . .

Components - Inverter

• This is known as an Off-Grid system
• Can operate independently without other power sources

Off-Grid systems

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• Solar Panels do not work at night or when it is
• vercast or raining
• Baperies can be charged with an AC Charger when

using an alternaXve AC power source

Components – AC Charger

• Hybrid systems can charge a set of baperies from more

than one source.

• Some hybrid systems are connected to the grid and some

aren’t.

Hybrid systems

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• Add control and configuraXon capability to system on

previous slide

Voltronic - Axpert

• Typical or tradiXonal UPS’s do not have solar capability

UPS – Uninterrupted Power Supply

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• Solar capability can be added as an external source

UPS with solar

Solar Panel / Module

• Solar Modules generate DC
• Baperies store DC
• Solar modules can be used to charge baperies
• Charge controllers protect baperies from being
• vercharged through configuraXon
• Inverters power electrical loads
• Electrical loads will cause baperies to discharge
• Some Inverters can be adjusted to prevent baperies from

discharging completely.

Component - Summary

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Line Diagrams

• Important

to remember system considera Xons during the design stage.

SchemaXc diagrams

According to SA regulaXons, every system should have a C.o.C issued with it to ensure safety.

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Different types of systems

• Off-Grid systems
• Systems operaXng independently from other sources
• Hybrid systems
• MulXple sources
• UPS systems
• AC Charged

Bapery Backup Systems

70

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• Inverters invert DC to

AC

• Although this type of

connecXon can work. It’s not safe. As AC Circuits need some form of protec5on the circuit could also do with some switches, fuses and circuit breakers.

Components - Inverter

+

• Battery

12 Volt 230 Volt Load

DC Supply AC Load

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

71

• Provided that the

products are suited to

• ne another, the

bapery can be charged safely as the charge controller may prevent the bapery from being

• vercharged.
• See charge controller

se|ngs for correct configuraXon

Components – Charge Controllers

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

72

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Components – Charge Controllers & inverters

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

+

• Battery

12 Volt 230 Volt Load

73

• This is known as an Off-Grid system
• Can operate independently without other power sources

Off-Grid systems

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

74

7/16/20 38

• Solar Panels do not work at night or when it is overcast or

raining

• Baperies can be charged with an AC Charger when using an

alternaXve AC power source

Components – AC Charger

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

75

• Hybrid systems can charge a set of baperies from more

than one source.

• Some hybrid systems are connected to the grid and some

aren’t.

Hybrid systems

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

76

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• Although it says

“Inverter” on the box, there is a lot more going on inside the box

• Let’s take a quick

look at how this unit can be explained in more detail.

Voltronic - Axpert

Cables are terminated in this secXon Changes and se|ngs are made here 77

Voltronic - Axpert

+

• Battery Bank

12 Volt

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations cables should be sized according to standards and based on site conditions and application

+

• Solar Array

230 Volt Load

78

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• Add control and configuraXon capability to system on previous slide

Voltronic - Axpert

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

79

• Typical or tradiXonal UPS’s do not have solar capability

UPS – Uninterrupted Power Supply

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

80

7/16/20 41

• Solar capability can be added as an external source

UPS with solar

Solar Panel / Module

Images are used for explanation purposes only - Circuit breakers, switchgear and safety devices should be included in all installations

81

• UPS systems provide customers with power security during

load-shedding and power outages

• UPS systems historically did not make provision for solar
• With hybrid systems mulXple sources can be uXlized to charge

a set of baperies.

• Any type of device connected to a bapery needs to be

configured properly in order to ensure opXmum performance and to prevent damage to the bapery bank

• Hybrid inverters have components inside of them that expand

their capability beyond that, of the tradiXonal inverter.

Component - Summary

82

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• GeneraXon, transmission and distribuXon lines all form

part of the uXlity network or Grid

What is a Grid TradiXonal ConnecXon Normal Eskom InstallaXon

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“Grid-Tied” Solar system

Small Scale Embedded Generator

Off-Grid Solar System No connecXon to Eskom Grid

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Hybrid System CombinaXon of both

Huge Grey Area

IrradiaXon

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Reference: Duffie Beckman 1991

89

The solar constant – World RadiaXon Centre ReflecXon, DeflecXon & AbsorpXon

90

Irradiance

1000w/m2

IrradiaXon

400 - 700w/m2

Solar Thermal

130 - 180w/m2

Solar PV

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91

• Peak Sun Hours are

used to calculate power generaXon of PV modules

• Peak Sun Hours can

be calculated by dividing annual sun hours by the number

• f days per year.
• e.g. 2000kWhrs/m2

divided by 365 = 5,47kWh/m2

Sun hours calculaXon

E N W

92

Summary - Impact of orientaXon

• 1000W/m2 is used

as the reference value and global average.

• Solar IrradiaXon

varies according to region and season.

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THE END THANK YOU!! (Please see supplemental slides)

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