BAHIRDAR UNIVERSTY

BAHIRDAR INSTITUT OF TECHNOLOGY (B.I.T)

FACULTY OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

ELECTRICAL POWER ENGINEERING STREAM

Energy Conversion & Rural Electrification assignment 2

Name Id no
ENDESHEW ASSABU …… BDU1011731

Submitted to Mr.YOSEF B.
Submission date - 20 / 10 / 2013
E.C

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Assignment II

Consider each of the loads used in each of your home, and design a standalone energy source
from solar power. You have to perform the following;
1. Collect data about the total load in your home
2. Solar irradiation data around your district
3. Sizing and specification of;
 Solar Panel
 Charge controller
 Inverter
 Battery
 Connecting cables
 Protection fuses and circuit breakers
4. Overall diagram of the designed solar power system using HOMER software
5. Economic/cost analysis of the overall system
6. Comparing the energy price between the newly designed solar power, and the electricity bill
by EEU
7. Conclusion and recommendation

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INTRODUCTION OF SOLAR PV
Objectives
 To stimulate activities that will lead to a cost reduction of PV power systems applications.
 To increase the awareness of PV power systems’ potential and value and thereby provide advice to
decision makers from government, utilities and international organizations.
 To give general insight about the PV designing.
 To show how solar energy is generated.
 To emphasize that solar energy is not an optional rather it is mandatory to satisfy house demand of rural
regions.
 To give recommendation for future researches.
 To appreciate the power system technology regarding solar PV.
 Use renewable energy resources instead of nonrenewable energy resources
 Enable the people to use electric energy those who live in the remote areas.

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Introduction

Photovoltaic convert light into electric current using the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic were initially,
and still are, used to power small and medium sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single
solar cell to off-grid homes powered by a photovoltaic array. They are an important and relatively
inexpensive source of electrical energy where grid power is in convenient, unreasonably expensive to
connect, or simply unavailable. However, as the cost of solar electricity is falling, solar power is also
increasingly being used even in grid connected situations as a way to feed low-carbon energy into the
grid. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of
sunlight into a small beam. The concentrated heat is then used as a heat source for a conventional power
plant. A wide range of concentrating technologies exists: the most developed are the parabolic trough, the
concentrating linear Fresnel reflector, the Sterling dish and the solar power tower. Various techniques are
used to track the sun and focus light. In all of these systems a working fluid is heated by the concentrated
sunlight, and is then used for power generation or energy storage. About half the incoming solar energy
reaches the Earth's surface. The Earth receives 174 peta watts (PW) (1015watts) of incoming solar
radiation at the upper atmosphere. Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is
absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses. The amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface
every hour is greater than humankind’s total demand for energy in one year. Electromagnetic radiation
from sun produce visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, x-rays, and radio waves. Most of the sun’s energy is
emitted as visible light. The trick to using it as an energy source is being able to convert it from visible
light into heat, electricity, or some other useful form.

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 What is solar plant?
Photovoltaic solar energy is a clean, renewable source of energy that uses solar radiation to produce
electricity. It is based on the so-called photoelectric effect, by which certain materials are able to absorb
photons (light particles) and release electrons, generating an electric current.

A semiconductor device called photovoltaic cell is used for this purpose, which can be made of
monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous silicon, or other thin-film semiconductor materials. The
cells made from monocrystalline silicon are obtained from a single crystal of pure silicon and achieve
maximum efficiency, between 18 % and 20 % on average. Those made from polycrystalline silicon are
made in blocks from several crystals, so they are cheaper and have an average efficiency of between 16 %
and 17.5 %. Finally, those made from amorphous silicon have a disordered crystalline network, which
leads to a lower performance (average efficiency between 8 % and 9 %) but also a lower price.

Fig. typical solar plant

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Main COMPONENTS OF SOLAR PV SYSTEM
1. PV module
A solar panel, or photo-voltaic (PV) module, is an assembly of photo-voltaic cells mounted in
a framework for installation. Solar panels use sunlight as a source of energy to generate direct
current electricity. A collection of PV modules is called a PV panel, and a system of panels is an
array. Arrays of a photovoltaic system supply solar electricity to electrical equipment

Fig.Solar pv module

2. BATTRY

Solar batteries are used to store solar energy (solar electricity) and discharge power as
and when needed. Rechargeable solar batteries are used in off-grid PV systems to
store excess electricity. Some solar battery banks use wet cells, while others use
sealed or gel cell batteries. Each of these batteries have different temperature,
mounting, and ventilation requirements.

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 Fig. solar battery

3. INVERTER
An inverter is mainly used to transform the DC electricity into AC, which is the main type of
power that is used by most of the residential appliances and electrical devices. An inverter is
considered as one of the most vital elements of the entire solar system since it determines how
much energy is about to be sent to the houses or the commercial industries, and how they help
the users measure the self-consumption of the overall electric power. There are many types
of solar inverter available in the market depending on what kind of solar panels you are using in
your properties. Furthermore, an inverter is essential because this is more likely to malfunction
due to its continuous use of making solar energy into its convenient form.

Fig. solar inverters

4. CHARGE CONTROLLER
A solar charge controller manages the power going into the battery bank from the solar array.  It ensures that the
deep cycle batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backwards to the solar
panels overnight and drain the batteries. Some charge controllers are available with additional capabilities, like
lighting and load control, but managing the power is its primary job.

Fig. solar charge controler

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5. solar cable and connectors  
A solar cable is the interconnection cable used in photovoltaic power generation. Solar cables
interconnect solar panels and other electrical components of a photovoltaic system. Solar cables
are designed to be UV resistant and weather resistant. They can be used within a large
temperature range.

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Solar irradiation data (Bahirdar)
For this project I consider the solar irradiation data at our town bahirdar, mainly its lowest
amount of average sunshine hour is 6 hours only (june).

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Solar PV system sizing

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:

  

Loads Power rating(W) Number of Operating (h/day) Remark

Pieces
HS lamp 12 1 4 For Salon
Lamp (CFL) 5 1 2 For Bedroom
Lamp (CFL) 5 1 1 For Kitchen
Lamp (TF -t ) 4 1 3 For Toilet
Tv (LED) 50 1 4 For salon
total 79

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.
 For HS lamp
12x4=48watt hour per day
 For Lamp (CFL)
5x2=10watt hour per day
 For Lamp (CFL)
4X3=12watt hour per day
 For Tv (LED)
50X1=50watt hour per day
 For Lamp (TF-t)
4*1=4watt hour per day
Determining of total watt hour per day from the above individual loads, the total wattage become

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 (48+10+12+50+4) =114watt hour per day.

1.2 Calculate total Watt-hours per day needed from the PV modules.

            Multiply the total appliances Watt-hours per day times 1.3 (Since there is power loss in the solar
PV system the energy should be assumed little greater than that of the actual power demand,) to get the
total Watt-hours per day which must be provided by the panels.
So, the total watt hour per day from PV module is 114x1.3=148.2watt hour per day

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.
To determine the sizing of PV modules, calculate as follows:
Divide peak watt by 6 sunshine hours peak This implies:
(148.2)/ (6) =29.64 wp This number will be rounded to 30wp which is the next higher and available one.
Calculating number of PV panel If we chose 12v dc voltage inverter, 30x1 PV panel is sufficient since
we have only small peak power.

3. Inverter sizing

An inverter is used in the system where AC power output is needed. The input rating of the inverter
should never be lower than the total watt of appliances. The inverter must have the same nominal voltage
as your battery.
For stand-alone systems, the inverter must be large enough to handle the total amount of Watts you will
be using at one time. The inverter size should be 25-30% bigger than total Watts of appliances. 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.
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.

The total watt of all appliances =50+12+5+5+4=79 watt

For safe operation the inverter should be 25% to 30% bigger size than the total watt. if we take 25%,
then we will have the size of:(25%x79) +79=98.75 watt or greater than this. but we choose 100 watt
available in market.

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 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.

Generally

Battery Capacity (Ah) = Total Watt-hours per day used by appliances x Days of autonomy
(0.85 x 0.6 x nominal battery voltage)

Based on the above procedure (mentioned at 4 ) , we have

Total appliance use =114watt hour per day
Nominal battery voltage=12v
Days of autonomy (uncertainty of days with light) =2 days.
Efficiency =85%
Depth of discharge =0.6
Therefore the battery capacity = (114x2)/(0.85x0.6x12)=37.25 Ah.
But the most available battery in the market is operates greater than this capacity. So the battery should
operate 50 Ah rated at 12v .

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 5. Solar charge controller sizing
The solar charge controller is typically rated against Amperage and Voltage capacities.
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

so to determine the charge controller size the following specifications are necessarily specified.
PV module specification Pm=30wp
width=518mm Vm=17.6v
length =546mm Im=1.71A
depth=25mm Isc=2.17A
weight=3.5kg Vos=21.4v
Solar charge controller rating =2.17 AX1.3=2.17x1.3=2.821A
and it is better to take the most available controller with rating current 5A at 12v or greater.

6. Cable selection
Cable selection is done based on current capacity from the Ethiopian EBCS-10 code given by the table
which can appropriately used by Designers.
As we can see from the table Current at P max is 1.69 and Ampere Regulator current is 5 Ampere from
EBCS -10 table for 2 cables single phase( a.c or d.c) 2x1.5mm 2 conductor size Can carry up to 15A, so
for this design the conductor size is appropriate.

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 7. Solar Fuse & Breaker Sizing

Based on the recommendations for use of protection of devices including circuit

breakers in PV modules against over current conditions are given in IEC 60269-6
(volume 6 of IEC 60269-6),
 IEC recommend a 20% and 25% margin in voltage and overload current
respectively.
 NEC also requires the breakers be sized at 125% of the inverter’s rated
output.
So

Fuse size = 98.25 * 125%=122.8 amp

As we know the standard ampere ratings for fuses and inverse time circuit breakers shall be

considered 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90,100, 110, 125, 150, e.t.c amperes, and
NEC states that we must select the closest size at or just above the ampacity value.

Therefore it is reasonable to choose 125 amp fuse.

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From my calculation above I have only

One pv module and

One battery storage

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 A typical Overall diagram of the designed solar power system with one pv and one
battery using HOMER software

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 cost analysis of the overall system
During design the two important constraints are cost and size and those two are directly proportional
to each other, So the designer should compromise those two constraints in effective and efficient manner
because being efficient and effective during designing is mandatory and challenge full which means
achieving demand through high price is equivalent to not achieving due to low price, so the engineer will
be on those two indifferences. Coasty design is not efficient but it may be effective because effectiveness
relates with achieving the goal in any means. Equivalently less cost design may not be effective but
efficient! Since efficiency relates with resource usage. Due to those reasons achieving both effectiveness
and efficiency may be challenge full at the same time but not a rule! Which means critical designers can
so do it!!

Through observation and interviewing we have got the following market prices of each component.
1.cost for PV module (30wp) In the current market price per watt is birr 85.
This implies the total cost will be 30x85= birr 2550.
2. Cost for battery (50Ah) =birr 5320
3. Cost for inverter (100watt) =birr 5000
4. Cost for charge controller (5A,12v) =birr 700
So total cost before assembling is birr 13570.

Comparing the energy price between the newly designed solar power,
and the electricity bill by EEU
To compare and contrast the cost with the Ethiopian utility and to investigate the feasibility we need
further assumption.
I. Useful life =13 years
II. Maintenance cost through the useful life=birr 1500
III. Discard after usage (no more useful after 10 years) Total cost of solar PV module=direct
component=13570+5320=birr 18890, So this much cost is incurred to produce a single solar PV
system. In Ethiopian market its selling price is about birr 18,872 According to Ethiopian electric
utility birr 0.35perkillowatt hour is paid.

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So we have 114watt hour per day, when it is calculated:
For one year 114x365=41610watt hour
For ten years 41610x13=540.93 kwh
So the price will be (0.35x540.93) =birr 189.3298 this cost analysis shows the cost of solar PV is
much higher than the utility.

Conclusions

Physically, solar energy constitutes the most abundant renewable energy resource
available and, in most regions of the world, its theoretical potential is far in excess of the current
total primary energy supply in those regions. Solar energy technologies could help address
energy access to rural and remote areas help improve long-term energy security and help
greenhouse gas mitigation. The market for technologies to harness solar energy has seen
dramatic expansion over the past decade .In particular the expansion of the market for grid
connected distributed PV systems and solar hot water systems have been remarkable. Notably,
centralized utility scale PV applications have grown strongly in the recent years; off-grid
applications are now dominant only in developing markets. Moreover, the market for larger solar
thermal technologies that first emerged in the early 1980s is now gathering momentum with a
number of new installations as well as projects in the planning stages. While the costs of solar
energy technologies have exhibited rapid declines in the recent past and the potential for
significant declines in the near future, the minimum values of levelized cost of any solar
technologies, including tower type CSP, which is currently the least costly solar technology,
would be higher than the maximum values of levelized costs of conventional technologies for
power generation (e.g., nuclear, coal IGCC, coal supercritical, hydro, gas CC) even if capital
costs of solar energy technologies were reduced by 25%. Currently, this is the primary barrier to
the large-scale deployment of solar energy technologies. Moreover, the scaling up of solar
energy technologies is also constrained by financial, technical and institutional barriers.

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 RECOMMENDATION

Solar PV system design in future researches will be done in better manner for specific household
demand because of technology advancement in fabrication of the components in different sizes and it
avoids components approximation which are not fitted for the given specification, so additional cost for
buying the next large size components is minimized and costs for different watt demands can be varied
and dependant only the demand and the components. In our project the watt demand per day is 95watt
hour and costs the above amount. Surprisingly if the watt demand is 100 watt hour, the cost not
significantly changed because components needed for the two different demands is approximately the
same, due to availability of specific components for specific demand and reduce costs without utility.

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REFFERENCES

For this project i have referenced different aiding tools. Those are the following:
1 Recent designed projects
2. www.leonics.com
3. www.mahatarsolar.com
4. Google Wikipedia
5. The lecturer slides

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