PV array and inverter optimum sizing for grid-connected photovoltaic power plants using optimization design (original) (raw)

Optimal sizing of array and inverter for grid-connected photovoltaic systems

Solar energy, 2006

Optimum PV/inverter sizing ratios for grid-connected PV systems in selected European locations were determined in terms of total system output, system output per specific cost of a system, system output per annualised specific cost of a system, PV surface orientation, inclination, tracking system, inverter characteristics, insolation and PV/inverter cost ratio. Maximum total system output was determined for horizontal, vertical and 45°inclined surfaces for a low efficiency inverter for sizing ratios of 1.5, 1.8 and 1.3, respectively; and for a medium efficiency inverter with sizing ratios of 1.4, 1.5 and 1.2. PV surface orientation and inclination have little impact on the performance of a high efficiency inverter. For different PV tracking systems and for different inverter characteristics, the optimum sizing ratio varied from 1.1 to 1.3. The PV/inverter cost ratio and the PV and inverter lifetimes have significant impact on the optimum PV/inverter sizing ratio. A correlation relating optimum sizing ratio and PV/inverter cost ratio has been developed; the correlation coefficients were found to be functions of insolation and inverter type. The impact of PV/inverter sizing ratio on PV array performance was less when PV array has a much higher cost than the inverter. The optimum sizing ratio for PV/inverter cost ratio of 6 and low efficiency inverter system varied from 1.4 to 1.2 for low to high insolation sites. For a high efficiency inverter system, the corresponding variation was from 1.3 to 1.1.

Optimal sizing of a grid-connected PV system for various PV module technologies and inclinations, inverter efficiency characteristics and locations

Renewable Energy, 2010

An optimal sizing methodology based on an energy approach is described and applied to grid-connected photovoltaic systems taking into account the photovoltaic module technology and inclination, the inverter type and the location. A model describing the efficiency for m-Si, p-Si, a-Si and CIS is used. The method has been applied on various meteorological stations in Bulgaria and Corsica (France). The main parameter affecting the sizing is the inverter efficiency curve. The influence of the PV module technology seems less important except for amorphous photovoltaic modules for which special remarks have been made. The inclination on the PV system influences the performances particularly when the inverter is undersized compared to the PV peak power.

Impact of inverter configuration on energy cost of grid-connected photovoltaic systems

Renewable Energy, 2012

This paper proposes a method to evaluate and optimize inverter configurations for grid-connected PV systems. It is studied by Monte-Carlo analysis that how the inverter configuration and its operation strategy would impact on lifetime energy yield and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) considering the PV array scale, environmental conditions, system cost, inverter efficiency and reliability. The efficiency characteristic of parallel inverters with a common DC bus is deliberated along with the optimal operation strategy. Inverter system performance ratio (ISPR) is proposed as an overall index of lifetime energy conversion efficiency. A case study is performed to demonstrate the proposed method. It shows that the configuration with a common DC bus is a potential solution to reduce the energy cost of PV power generation systems. As ancillary results, it is found that optimizing the PV panel orientation can improve the probability distribution of solar irradiance on the panel, and it is confirmed that an oversized PV array may help reduce the energy cost.

An Iterative Method for Calculating the Optimum Size of Inverter in PV Systems for Malaysia

This paper presents an iterative method for optimizing inverter size in photovoltaic (PV) system for five sites in Malaysia. The sizing ratiom which is the ratio of PV rated power to inverter’s rated power is optimized at different load levels using different commercial inverters models. Hourly solar radiation and ambient temperature records are used to develop a Matlab model for a PV array and inverter. The model aims to estimate the inverter’s efficiency in terms of PV array output power and inverter rated power. The results showed that the optimum sizing ratios for Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bharu, Ipoh, Kuching and Alor Setar are 1.21, 1.43, 1.31, 1.37 and 1.26, respectively.

Sizing and Design of PV Array for Photovoltaic Power Plant Connected Grid Inverter

2016

Over the past few years, installation of photovoltaic power plants (PVPPs) are considered as one of the most promising technologies at many of countries around the world, in order to meet the growing demand of energy. The DC side (PV generators and MPPT) of a 1.5 MW PV power plant connected to the inverter is modeled and simulated using Matlab/Simulink. The sizing of the suggested PVPP is achieved, such as array sizing and enhanced perturb and observe maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique, in order to overcome the disadvantages of conventional method such as oscillation and slowly tracking under sudden change of atmospheric conditions. The MATLAB/Simulink was run to simulate the PV array sizing and its characteristics depending on enhanced MPPT technique to improve the efficiency of the modules and getting maximum available power. The simulation result has been matched the sizing theoretical calculation results.

Grid-connected photovoltaic module and array sizing based on an iterative approach

International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy, 2014

This paper deals with the sizing of a simple but efficient grid-connected photovoltaic (GCPV) system to minimize the difference between the electrical energy generated by the GCPV system and the required energy. It provides a technical sizing procedure based on an iterative approach for meeting specific amount of GWh output required by a future PV system considered for Kuwait. The iterative sizing algorithm has been implemented to determine the configuration of the PV array, actual rated output power with its relative energy, area of the array and efficiency of the system using an existing PV module and inverter database. Consequently the size of the array has been estimated based on a particular PV module and inverter combination. Optimum inverter-to-PV array sizing factor for a gridconnected PV system was determined in terms of the total system output.

Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System: System Overview and Sizing Principles

2020

Abstract—The optimal size of a photovoltaic (PV) array is considered a critical factor in designing an efficient PV system due to the dependence of the PV cell performance on temperature. A high temperature can lead to voltage losses of solar panels, whereas a low temperature can cause voltage overproduction. There are two possible scenarios of the inverter’s operation in which they are associated with the erroneous calculations of the number of PV panels: 1) If the number of the panels is scant and the temperature is high, the minimum voltage required to operate the inverter will not be reached. As a result, the inverter will shut down. 2) Comparably, if the number of panels is excessive and the temperature is low, the produced voltage will be more than the maximum limit of the inverter which can cause the inverter to get disconnected or even damaged. This article aims to assess theoretical and practical methodologies to calculate size and determine the topology of a PV array. The ...

Simulation-based criteria for the power sizing of grid-connected PV systems

2011

This paper discusses about the photovoltaic (PV) generator/inverter power sizing factor in grid-connected PV systems. The optimal sizing factor is defined as sizing factor value that maximizes the yearly energy injected to the grid. The criteria obtained for the sizing factor choice come from the estimation of the injected energy by means of a set of Matlab-based simulations. These simulations involve a simulation-oriented model of the PV conversion chain elements, the environmental data of several European sites as well as the PV installation mounting type, the PV cell materials characteristics, the inverter efficiency and the estimation of DC power losses. The simulation results show, among others, that the current practice of under-sizing the inverter maximum power, with respect to the PV generator nominal power, may not be the best choice in terms of yearly produced energy. These results also evidence the strong impact of both the PV generator operating temperature and inverter efficiency in the choice of the optimal inverter power sizing, and on the yearly energy injected to the grid. Nomenclature P -Thermal efficiency coefficient of PV generator EAC -Annual energy injected to the grid EPV -Annual energy delivered by PV generator G -Incident irradiance on flat surface H 2 da -Yearly mean daily irradiation on PV generator IM,STC -Current at MPP in STC JM,STC -Current density in the PV generator wires k -Ross coefficient of PV generator k0 -Inverter losses coefficient at no load k1 -Linear current coefficient of inverter losses k2 -Quadratic current coefficient of inverter losses LW -Length of PV generator wires E -Yearly energy efficiency I -Efficiency of inverter P -Efficiency of PV generator R -Efficiency of PV generator at reference temperature PAC -Available power at inverter output PDC -Available power at inverter input PINV -Maximum power of central inverter PPV -Available power at PV generator output PPV,STC -Available power at PV generator output in STC PPVG -Peak power of PV generator PWL -Power losses on PV generator wires W -Resistivity of PV generator wires SF -Sizing Factor SFOPT -Optimal value of Sizing Factor SPVG -Surface of PV generator SW -Cross-section area of PV generator wires TA -Ambient temperature TM -Operating temperature of PV modules TR -Reference temperature (25 ºC)

Power sizing factor design of central inverter PV grid-connected systems: A simulation approach

Proceedings of 14th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference EPE-PEMC 2010, 2010

This paper presents a simulation approach which can help in the preliminary power sizing design of a gridconnected PV system based on a single inverter configuration. Given a nominal peak power of the PV array, this simulation procedure leads to the PV inverter maximum rated power which maximizes the yearly injected energy to the grid.

Optimum inverter sizing in consideration of irradiance pattern and PV incentives

2011

This paper proposes a general method of sizing the inverter for a PV system. The method evaluates effects of PV incentive policies, inverter efficiency curves, and inverter protection schemes on optimum inverter sizing through system-level cost analysis. Specifically, different scenarios of PV incentives are discussed and compared to show that the optimal inverter size varies notably by location and context. I.