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PV-DesignPro is a suite of
Windows 95, 98, and NT software designed to simulate photovoltaic energy
system operation on an hourly basis for one year, based on a user
selected climate and system design. Three versions of the PV-DesignPro
program are included on the CD-ROM: "PV-DesignPro-S" for standalone
systems with battery storage, "PV-DesignPro-G" for grid-connected
systems with no battery storage, and "PV-DesignPro-P" for water pumping
systems. Below is a screen-shot of the "S" version.
The purpose of the programs are to aid
in photovoltaic system design by providing accurate and in-depth
information on likely system power output and load consumption,
necessary backup power during the operation of the system, and the
financial impacts of installing the proposed system. PV-DesignPro is
directed at individuals who consider themselves as professional PV
system designers and researchers, but has been completed in such a way
as to make it possible novice designers to evaluate system designs.
Included with the program CD-ROM is a
climate database of
239 locations
in the continental U.S, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Also on
the CD-ROM is a worldwide hourly climate generator program with
2,132 international climates
that compiles any of these climates in minutes for use with the
program. Users can select climates simply by browsing the various files
in the "Climate Window" (as shown in the link below). Also,
instructions are given for users to create their own climate files based
on data they have available for a particular site. Some screen shots of
PV-DesignPro-S version and their explanations are shown in the tables
below...
Users can select climates
simply by browsing the various files in the climate window (as shown in
the link below).
The electrical load on the
system is input by the user for various hours of weekdays, weekends, and
holidays. The hourly loads remain the same for respective weekdays and
weekends throughout the annual simulation (as shown in link below).
LOAD WINDOW
The PV system array is
modeled using various published equations and manufacturer provided
panel parameters. The user need only select the type of panel from the
database of PV panels, and input the number of parallel connections and
series strings of similar panels. Various chart outputs, such as the
typical I-V-P curve shown on the array window link below, are available
to the designer to estimate performance.
Six types of panel surface
tracking are incorporated into the program and are available to the
user: 1. Fixed slope and axis, 2. Tracking on a horizontal east-west
axis, 3. Tracking on a horizontal north-south axis, 4. Tracking on a
vertical axis with a fixed slope, 5. Tracking on a north-south axis
parallel to the Earth’s axis, and 6. Continuous tracking on two axes.
As a result, the benefits of utilizing any of the available tracking
methods are easily attained.
TRACKING WINDOW
Maximum power point
tracking devices can be entered into the design, however, their overall
efficiency must be known. Also, wiring diameter and distance to and
from the panels to the battery are accounted for in the design with
relative voltage drop and power loss.
WIRING WINDOW
Battery backup charging
parameters are selected by the user, as are any AC inverter necessary to
power AC loads (a database of various inverters is included with the
program).
BATTERY INFO WINDOW
BATTERY BACKUP CHARGING
After the system design is complete, the
user proceeds to calculate the results by pressing the calculate
button. The following results are then presented on the screen
(calculation takes 8-15 seconds on a Pentium level machine):
1. Solar Fraction
charts, by month of the year
SOLAR FRACTION TAB
2. Battery states of
charge by month (maximum, average, minimum).
BATTERY S.O.C. TAB
3. Annual performance
table (energy produced, necessary backup, and states-of-charge).
PERFORMANCE TAB
4. An Annual Energy Cost
Analysis that includes prospective cash-flows based on costs of
purchased energy, and any sold PV energy.
ANNUAL ENERGY COST ANALYSIS TAB
5. A Lifecycle Cost
Analysis that is a comprehensive pro-forma analysis of the system design
based on system cost, costs of backup energy, prices of sold energy,
maintenance and replacement costs, and the estimated life of the
system. A rate of return is calculated, as is an overall price per kWh
of the system, and pay back years.
LIFECYCLE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS TAB
Charts can be viewed that
cover every hour of the year and include battery SOC, battery voltage,
solar radiation on a horizontal surface, solar radiation on the array,
load and backup watts, panels efficiency, panel cell temperature, angles
of incidence, slope angle, and the azimuth angle.
Full system reports can be printed that
include most of the information contained in the above results. Once
the user has completed a design, it can be saved as a file and reused or
modified at a later date.
Additional window
screen-shots:
How hard is it to learn to
use PV-DesignPro? Read the "Quick Start" help file text
here. |
