Learn how to plan, design and install a standalone solar PV system for electricity generation. Find out the factors to consider, calculations to perform and example… Contact online >>
Learn how to plan, design and install a standalone solar PV system for electricity generation. Find out the factors to consider, calculations to perform and example
Originally published 4-6-18
Imagine creating a device that never needs to be plugged in - harnessing the sun''s power to run indefinitely, anywhere.
It''s possible with the right approach to solar power budgeting and system design. Whether you''re developing a remote weather station, a solar-powered medical freezer, or a groundbreaking IoT device, understanding how to budget and design a solar power system properly is crucial.
In this guide, we''ll walk through the essential components of solar power planning, from calculating power consumption to selecting the correct battery and solar panel size. We''ll even provide a real-world example to illustrate these principles.
Ready to unlock the potential of solar power for your next project?
A power budget consists of the following:
Let''s explore each of these components in detail.
First, we must determine a device''s power consumption to quantify its required power.
We will convert device power consumption to Watt-hours per day since that coincides with typical solar illumination cycles.
To determine the number of Watt-Hours per day of power required to operate the device, use the following equation:
In addition to the power consumed by your device, there will also be some parasitic discharge from the storage element. This discharge is based on the type and capacity of the storage element.
Most self-discharge is a percentage of the capacity per day. Discharge rates also strongly depend on ambient temperature and will increase with temperature.
Below is a table of discharge rates for common types of storage elements.
When a device requires an input voltage that must be significantly different than the storage element''s voltage or stable over the entire range of a storage element, a power converter must be placed between the storage element and the device.
Converter efficiency can be measured by operating the system and measuring the voltage and current at the converter''s input and output.
To calculate the converter efficiency, use the following equation:
The input is power supplied by the solar panel or storage element, and the output is the power consumed by the device to be powered.
Now that the converter efficiency is known, it needs to be considered in the daily device power consumption calculation.
Use the following equation to account for converter efficiency in your device power consumption if the original measurement was not made with the converter included:
Unfortunately, outdoor light is rarely consistent. However, the sun rises and sets daily, providing a cadence for studying the power consumption of outdoor devices. The same is valid for indoor devices. Often, the opening or closing of a business or other daily routine sets a schedule for available illumination.
Outdoor light varies widely based on several factors:
This makes for a very dynamic amount of available power and a complex system to design. All of these factors will shift both the solar spectrum and the intensity.
When sizing a system for continuous year-round operation, use the information for the worst-case month of the year.
If the product is deployed indoors or in a shaded area, a more in-depth analysis of hours of illumination and intensity will be required. The available light intensity can depend on factors like distance from the light source, angle to the light source, and potential for intermittent shadowing.
Note: Solar power generation is sometimes simplified when the product is deployed indoors due to the indoor environment''s daily cadence. Indoors can be a much more reliable environment to operate in than outdoors.
Adding a charge controller to the system will introduce another parasitic loss. Charge controller efficiencies range from 60% to 95%.
The available illumination, especially in outdoor applications, assumes the panel will see the average solar radiation daily to maintain operation without disruption. However, realistic world conditions are often less predictable.
Realistically, there will be overcast and sunny days, so a battery storage system must be large enough to provide power during extended periods of low solar radiation.
To account for this variability:
The panel must be large enough to recharge the storage system in a reasonable amount of time during good solar radiation.
To effectively charge the storage element, the solar panel must produce enough power to overcome:
Use the following calculation to determine the required panel size:
Now let''s apply what we learned to an example: using solar energy to power an Engel MHD13F-DM freezer and keep medical supplies frozen in a remote area of southern Africa.
According to the performance data:
About Solar power system design calculations
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