PVTRIN Training Course Solar Installers Handbook
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PVTRIN Training course Solar Installers handbook www.pvtrin.eu PVTRIN Training course- Solar installers handbook ii CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS iii 1.5.3. Making cities greener 10 1. SOLAR BASICS 2 1.5.4. PV jobs 10 1.5.5. No limits 11 1.1. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy 2 2. DESIGN PRINCIPLES 14 1.1.1. The sun as an energy source 2 1.1.2. What does photovoltaic (PV) 2.1. On Site Visit 14 mean? 2 2.1.1. Customer Needs 15 1.1.3. Solar irradiance (radiation) 2 2.1.2. Climate Conditions 15 1.1.4. Enormous potential 3 2.1.3. Shading 15 1.2. PV System 4 2.1.4. Array Orientation and Tilt 18 1.2.1. PV cells and modules 4 2.1.5. Μοunting Methods 19 1.2.2. Inverters 5 2.1.6. BOS Locations 21 1.2.3. Batteries and charge controllers 5 2.1.7. Load Description 22 1.2.4. Other system components 5 2.1.8. Performance ratio 22 1.3. PV Technologies 5 2.2. System Sizing and Design 23 1.3.1. First generation (Crystalline 2.2.1. Basics 23 silicon technology) 5 2.2.2. Inverters 24 1.3.2. Second generation (Thin Films) 6 2.2.3. Number of strings 27 1.3.3. Third generation photovoltaics 7 2.2.4. Sizing of cables 27 1.4. Types of PV systems and 2.2.5. Blocking Diodes 29 applications 8 2.2.6. Earthing 29 1.4.1. Grid-connected systems 8 2.2.7. Lightning protection 30 1.4.2. Stand-alone, off-grid and hybrid 2.2.8. Stand-alone PV system sizing 32 systems 9 2.2.9. Legal Aspects 38 1.5. Benefits of PV technology 9 2.3. Simulation software 38 1.5.1. Environmental footprint of PV 10 2.3.1. PV analysis and planning 1.5.2. Improving grid efficiency 10 software 39 2.3.2. Software tools for site analysis 41 PVTRIN Training course- Solar installers handbook iii 2.4. Economics and Environmental 3.5. Design parameters and Issues 42 performance factors 75 2.4.1. Economic Aspects 42 3.5.1. Location and urban planning 75 2.4.2. Environmental Issues 44 3.5.2. Orientation and tilt 76 3.5.3. Shading 78 2.5. Standards and regulations 47 3.5.4. Construction requirements 79 2.5.1. International Standards and Regulations 47 3.6. Examples from the residential 2.5.2. National Standards and sector 80 Regulations 47 3.7. Exercises 83 2.6. Databases 50 3.7.1. Mounting and building integration options 83 2.7. Exercises 54 3.7.2. BIPV and BAPV on roofs 83 2.7.1. Case studies 54 3.7.3. BIPV and BAPV on facades 84 2.7.2. Multiple Choice Questions 56 3.7.4. Glass roofs, shading systems and 2.7.3. Correct–Wrong Questions 58 other applications 84 2.7.4. More Practice 59 3.7.5. Design parameters and performance factors 85 3. BAPV and BIPV 62 4. INSTALLATION – SITEWORK 88 3.1. Mounting and building integration options 62 4.1. Working safely with PV 88 3.1.1. BAPV and BIPV 62 4.1.1. Safe Working Practices 88 3.1.2. Building integration options 62 4.1.2. Potential hazards 88 3.2. BIPV and BAPV on roofs 64 4.1.3. Safety with electrical installations 89 3.2.1. PV modules on flat roofs 64 4.1.4. Security provisions for work at 3.2.2. PV modules on pitched roofs 65 height. 92 3.3. PV on facades 67 4.1.5. Safety equipment 94 4.1.6. Fire protection 94 3.3.1. Options for integration 67 4.1.7. Other Risks 95 3.3.2. BAPV on facades 68 3.3.3. BIPV on facades 68 4.2. Installation plan 96 3.3.4. Mounting requirements 71 4.2.1. Work Sequences 97 3.4. Glass roofs, shading systems and 4.2.2. Technical documentation 97 other applications 71 4.2.3. Technical drawings 98 3.4.1. Glass roofs 71 4.2.4. Tools and Equipment 98 3.4.2. Shading devices 72 4.2.5. Safety Plan 99 3.4.3. Other applications 74 4.3. Electrical components installation 99 4.3.1. Mitigate electrical hazards 99 PVTRIN Training course- Solar installers handbook iv CONTENTS 4.3.2. Install grounding system 100 5.7. Blackpool Centre for Excellence in 4.3.3. Conduit 102 the Environment 146 4.3.4. Protections 102 6. EXAMPLE INSTALLATION OF A SMALL 4.3.5. Circuit Conductors 103 SCALE PV ON BUILDING 150 4.4. Equipment installation 103 6.1. Used software Tool – PV*Sol 150 4.4.1. Photovoltaic module 103 4.4.2. Inverter 107 6.2. Description of a building 150 4.4.3. Storage Battery System 108 6.3. Selection of the equipment 151 4.4.4. Current / Voltage Regulator 113 6.4. Determination of climate conditions151 4.5. Mechanical Components Installation116 4.5.1. Adapting the Mechanical Design 116 6.5. Determination a appropriate size of PV system 152 4.5.2. Structure Support 116 4.5.3. Anchorage Systems 119 6.6. Selection of an inverter 153 4.6. Grid-connected PV Systems 121 6.7. Estimation of shadings 153 4.6.1. Topology of the installations 122 6.8. Estimating a energy production 153 4.7. Stand-alone PV System 123 6.9. Safety plan of a small scale 4.8. Completing the PV installation 124 installation 154 4.8.1. Documentation to the customer 127 7. MAINTENANCE AND 4.9. Installation checklist 128 TROUBLESHOOTING 158 4.10. Exercises 130 7.1. Maintenance plan 158 4.10.1. Questions 130 7.1.1. Periodical inspection 158 7.1.2. Dirt accumulation 158 5. CASE STUDIES – BEST PRACTICES 134 7.1.3. Battery maintenance 159 5.1. PV installation in Aurinkolahti 7.1.4. Inverter maintenance 159 Comprehensive School 134 7.1.5. Charge controller maintenance 160 7.1.6. Maintenance tools and 5.2. PV plant on the Kungsmad School 136 equipment 160 5.3. Solar power plant BERDEN 138 7.1.7. Shading 161 7.1.8. Electrical connections check 161 5.4. PV system on school in Šmartno ob 7.1.9. Other damages 161 Dreti 140 7.2. Typical mistakes and failures 162 5.5. Athens Metro Mall 142 7.3. Diagnostic procedures 164 5.6. Roof and wall mounted system in 7.3.1. Visual inspection procedures 164 Finland 144 PVTRIN Training course- Solar installers handbook v 7.3.2. Performance monitoring 164 7.4. Documentation to the customer 165 7.5. Maintenance checklist 165 7.6. Exercises 166 7.6.1. Questions & Answers 166 8. QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND CUSTOMER CARE 168 8.1. Quality principles 168 8.2. EU standards for PV 169 8.3. Customer care 170 8.3.1. General 170 8.3.2. Selling Solar 170 8.3.3. Quotations and contracts 171 8.3.4. Completing the work 172 8.3.5. Final testing, commissioning and handover 172 8.3.6. Warranties and after sales service 172 8.4. Exercises 173 9. FURTHER READING 174 9.1. Further Reading 174 9.2. Further Reading, in Greek 176 10. GLOSSARY OF TERMS 177 ANNEXEX 182 LIST OF TABLES 190 LIST OF FIGURES 192 REFERENCES 196 PVTRIN Training course- Solar installers handbook vi SOLAR BASICS 1 PVTRIN Training course- Solar installers handbook 1 1. SOLAR BASICS FIGURE 1. EXAMPLE OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT. (Source: EPIA) 1.1. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy 1.1.1. The sun as an energy source The sun is the most important source of energy for all processes on earth. The sun provides heat and contributes to critical processes such as photosynthesis, being an energy source for the survival of all species on earth. When it comes to energy in the more common sense of the word, today’s methods to produce energy on earth use solar energy – either directly or in an indirect way. Biological material from the past has been transformed into fossil fuels (oil and coal), but also wind power, hydropower and bio- energy are indirect forms of solar energy. Solar photovoltaics on the other hand is a direct form of solar energy. 1.1.2. What does photovoltaic (PV) mean? 1.1.3. Solar irradiance (radiation) Photovoltaic (PV) systems contain cells that A large amount of statistical data on solar convert sunlight into electricity. Inside each energy availability is collected globally. For cell there are layers of a semi-conducting example, the US National Solar Radiation material. Light falling on the cell creates an database has 30 years of solar irradiance and electric field across the layers, causing meteorological data from 237 sites in the electricity to flow. The intensity of the light USA. The European Joint Research Centre determines the amount of electrical power (JRC) also collects and publishes European each cell generates. solar irradiance data from 566 sites. A photovoltaic system does not need bright Different types of solar irradiance data are sunlight in order to operate. It can also available. It is important to distinguish generate electricity on cloudy and rainy days between1: from reflected sunlight. 1 Definitions sources from: http://www.3tier.com/en/support/glossary/ PVTRIN Training course- Solar installers handbook 2 1 SOLAR BASICS - Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI): the amount Depending on the type of PV system, of solar radiation received per unit area by a different irradiance data has to be used.