جامعة االنبار
كلية العلوم التطبيقية – هيت
قسم البيئة -المرحلة الرابعة
Solar PV System Sizing
Mohammed Qasim Taha
1. Determine power consumption demands
The first step in designing a solar PV system is to find out
the total power and energy consumption of all loads that
need to be supplied by the solar PV system as follows:
1.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day for each
appliance used.
Add the Watt-hours needed for all appliances together to
get the total Watt-hours per day which must be delivered
to the appliances.
1.2 Calculate total Watt-hours per day needed from the
PV modules.
Multiply the total appliances Watt-hours per day times
1.3 (the energy lost in the system) to get the total Watt-
hours per day which must be provided by the panels.
2. Size the PV modules
Different size of PV modules will produce different amount
of power. To find out the sizing of PV module, the total
peak watt produced needs. The peak watt (Wp) produced
depends on size of the PV module and climate of site
location. We have to consider “panel generation factor”
which is different in each site location. In most cases, panel
generation factor is 3.43. To determine the sizing of PV
modules, calculate as follows:
2.1 Calculate the total Watt-peak rating needed for PV
modules
Divide the total Watt-hours per day needed from the PV
modules (from item 1.2) by 3.43 to get the total Watt-
peak rating needed for the PV panels needed to operate
the appliances.
2. Size the PV modules
2.2 Calculate the number of PV panels for the system
➢Divide the answer obtained in item 2.1 by the
rated output Watt-peak of the PV modules
available to you. Increase any fractional part of
result to the next highest full number and that will
be the number of PV modules required.
➢Result of the calculation is the minimum number
of PV panels. If more PV modules are installed,
the system will perform better, and battery life
will be improved. If fewer PV modules are used,
the system may not work at all during cloudy
periods and battery life will be shortened.
3. Inverter sizing
1. An inverter is used in the system where AC power output is
needed.
2. The input rating of the inverter should never be lower than the
total watt of appliances.
3. The inverter must have the same nominal voltage as your battery.
4. For stand-alone systems, the inverter must be large enough to
handle the total amount of Watts you will be using at one time.
5. The inverter size should be 25-30% bigger than total Watts of
appliances 1.2.
6. In case of appliance type is motor or compressor then inverter size
should be minimum 3 times the capacity of those appliances and
must be added to the inverter capacity to handle surge current
during starting.
7. For grid tie systems or grid connected systems, the input rating of
the inverter should be same as PV array rating to allow for safe
and efficient operation.
4. Battery sizing
The battery type recommended for using in solar PV system is deep
cycle battery. Deep cycle battery is specifically designed for to be
discharged to low energy level and rapid recharged or cycle charged
and discharged day after day for years. The battery should be large
enough to store sufficient energy to operate the appliances at night
and cloudy days. To find out the size of battery, calculate as follows:
4.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day used by appliances.
4.2 Divide the total Watt-hours per day used by 0.85 for battery loss.
4.3 Divide the answer obtained in item 4.2 by 0.6 for depth of discharge.
4.4 Divide the answer obtained in item 4.3 by the nominal battery voltage.
4.5 Multiply the answer obtained in item 4.4 with days of autonomy
(the number of days that you need the system to operate when there
is no power produced by PV panels) to get the required Ampere-hour
capacity of deep-cycle battery.
Battery Capacity (Ah) = Total Watt-hours per day used by appliances x Days of autonomy
(0.85 x 0.6 x nominal battery voltage)
5. Solar Charge Controller Sizing
The solar charge controller is typically rated against Amperage and
Voltage capacities.
1. Select the solar charge controller to match the voltage of PV array
and batteries and then identify which type of solar charge controller
is right for your application.
2. Make sure that solar charge controller has enough capacity to handle
the current from PV array.
For the series charge controller type, the sizing of controller depends on
the total PV input current which is delivered to the controller and also
depends on PV panel configuration (series or parallel configuration).
According to standard practice, the sizing of solar charge controller is to
take the short circuit current (Isc) of the PV array, and multiply it by 1.3
Solar charge controller rating = Total short circuit current of PV array x 1.3
Remark: For MPPT charge controller sizing will be different.
Example:
A house has the following electrical appliance usage:
1.One 18 Watt fluorescent lamp with electronic ballast used 4
hours per day.
2.One 60 Watt fan used for 2 hours per day.
3.One 75 Watt refrigerator that runs 24 hours per day with
compressor run 12 hours and off 12 hours.
Design a PV system powered by 12 Vdc Batteries , 110 Wp PV
module with 7.5 Isc?
Answer:
1. Determine power consumption demands
Total appliance use = (18 W x 4 hours) + (60 W x 2 hours) + (75 W x 24
x 0.5 hours)
= 1,092 Wh/day
Total PV panels energy needed = 1,092 x 1.3 = 1,419.6 Wh/day.
Answer:
2. Size the PV panel
2.1 Total Wp of PV panel capacity = 1,419.6 / 3.4 = 413.9
Wp
2.2 Number of PV panels = 413.9 / 110 = 3.76 modules
Actual requirement = 4 modules
So this system should be powered by at least 4 modules
of 110 Wp PV module.
3. Inverter sizing
Total Watt of all appliances = 18 + 60 + 75 = 153 W
For safety, the inverter should be considered 300%
bigger size.
So, the inverter size should be about 190 W or greater.
Answer:
4. Battery sizing
Total appliances use = 1,092 Wh/day
Nominal battery voltage = 12 V
Days of autonomy = 3 days
Battery capacity = 1,092 Wh/day x3
(0.85 x 0.6 x 12)
Total Ampere-hours required 535.29 Ah
So the battery rating (12 V 600 Ah) for 3 day autonomy.
5. Solar charge controller sizing
Solar charge controller rating = (4 strings x 7.5 A) x 1.3 = 39 A
So the solar charge controller should be rated 40 A at 12 V or
greater.
