Photovoltaic systems design

[Mauriciocol]

Hi all

The company that I work for is in the process to be involved in the design of small photovoltaic systems for schools and/or government buildings to support or backup communication rooms, but I have no expertise at all with the photovoltaic system design.

I want to know if any of you could provide me some information about the design of these systems northern New Jersey so I can begin in the right way. Are there some books or some literature that you know about? It will be helpful.

Any info on this matter will be appreciated.

 

[SidiropoulosM]

Your best source:

http://www.asepv.com/

 

[busbar]

NEC Article 690 Solar Photovoltaic Systems may apply. UL Standard 1741 Inverters, Converters, and Controllers for Use in Independent Power Systems and IEEE Standard 929 Utility Interface of Residential and Intermediate Photovoltaic Systems are applicable to PV systems with inverters.

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Visit

http://www.engin.umich.edu/solarboat/bdtheory.html

http://www.nrel.gov/ncpv/pdfs/11_20_dga_basics_9-13.pdf

http://phv.osti.gov/cgi-bin/genresults?nrphv.results

etc. for more info

 

[DCElectrical]

Designing of solar power system is not easy, although it may seems to. Specially if you are joggling between cost and reliability. I would suggest you to use PV sizing software. I use Nsol PV sizing software to size solar systems which you can get on orion energy site

http://www.orionenergy.com.

There are other good ones also available.
I would also suggest you to get data for the nearest location of the solar installation eg Isolation, Isolation clearness index Equivalent number of No Sun days, Air temperature etc. You can get this from this site

http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/sse/

Hope this helps.

 

[SidiropoulosM]

Related question: Wind generators have a capacity factor of 25-30%, depending on the wind characteristics of the location. What is the expected capacity factor of PV systems?

 

[DCElectrical]

It varies from the location of the installation. About 10% to 30%. Average of 20% in US which varies from 15% in North America to 25% in the South.

 

[fsulax15]

Another option you might want to try is to talk to a PV design firm. I had the same questions as you a few months ago and some of these guys were very helpful.

http://www.solardesign.com/

http://www.solar-works.com/

http://www.sunmasterscorp.com/index.html

This is a link to a different design software:

http://www.pvpower.com/bipvsoftware.html

Good luck.