Training

The first few topics of the course are designed to help readers understand the fundamentals of PV installation. These include solar irradiation, peak sun hours, sun-path diagrams, the position of the sun, solar altitude, geometric effects, tilting solar modules, electrical integration of PV modules and configuration of the array. Types and characteristics of solar cells, including power characteristics, performance, electrical protection and reliability issues, are discussed in detail, providing essential engineering and scientific knowledge to the designers. There is also a topic on inverters, which covers inverter types, efficiencies, protection systems, power quality, monitoring and selection. 

The highly illustrative topic on mounting structures covers different types of mounting systems suitable for different types of roofing and ground material, PV array row spacing and calculating wind loading for solar arrays in different regions of India.

The course covers designing, selecting and balancing system components, including DC and AC cabling, protection and disconnection switches (fuses, isolators and/or circuit breakers), lightning protection, PV array DC and inverter AC isolators, metering and system monitoring.

A step-by-step methodology is provided for undertaking a site assessment to determine energy-efficient initiatives, occupational health and safety risks, solar radiation and shading, how the PV modules will be mounted, the positioning of inverters and the cable layout. 

Matching of array and inverter is of the utmost importance for better performance of a grid-connected PV system. The designer needs to ensure that these components match in terms of voltage, current and power during seasonal changes in the operating temperature of the solar array. The handcourse covers this aspect with several working examples and case studies. 

The course meticulously covers the forms of protection used within a PV array, the method of determining whether fault current protection is required and the sizing of fault current protection. Similarly, sizing and selection of DC and AC cabling is also explained, with several working examples. 

In evaluating the energy yield and performance ratio of a PV system, it is important to consider losses from various different factors, including temperature, soiling, shading, manufacturer’s tolerance, voltage drop through AC and DC cabling, inverter, tilt and orientation of the solar modules. 

At the end of the course, the participants have to complete a design assignment with given site and climatic information, equipment data sheets and economic considerations of the prevailing market.