Stand-alone Photovoltaic Systems

Sandia National Laboratories

Table of contents :
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF STAND-ALONE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS……Page 1
ABSTRACT……Page 2
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS……Page 4
PREFACE……Page 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS……Page 7
LIST OF FIGURES……Page 10
LIST OF TABLES……Page 13
1.1 PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL……Page 14
1.3.1 Review of Manual Structure……Page 15
1.3.7 Notes, Cautions, and Warnings……Page 16
1.3.9 Figures and Tables……Page 17
2.1.3 DC Electricity……Page 18
2.1.4 Current-Limited System……Page 19
2.1.6 Voltage Drops……Page 20
2.1.7 Connect/Disconnect Sequences……Page 21
2.2.1 Direct (Direct Coupled) DC System……Page 22
2.2.2 Power Point Tracking DC System……Page 23
2.2.4 Regulated DC System……Page 24
2.2.6 AC System with Storage……Page 25
2.3.1 Photovoltaic Cells……Page 26
2.3.2 Photovoltaic Modules……Page 30
2.3.3 Describing Photovoltaic Module Performance……Page 31
2.3.4 Photovoltaic Arrays……Page 37
2.3.5 Module Tilt and Orientation……Page 52
2.4.1 DC Loads……Page 54
2.4.2 AC Loads……Page 56
2.5.1 Battery and Other Storage……Page 57
2.5.2 Charge Controllers……Page 76
2.5.3 Inverters……Page 85
2.5.4 DC to DC Converters……Page 92
2.5.6 Independent Monitoring Systems……Page 93
2.5.7 Wiring and Grounding……Page 94
2.6 QUESTIONS FOR SELF-STUDY……Page 99
3.1.1 General……Page 102
3.1.2 System Meters……Page 103
3.1.4 Disconnect Switches and Fuses……Page 107
3.1.6 Charge Controllers……Page 108
3.1.7 Batteries……Page 113
3.1.8 Arrays……Page 121
3.1.11 AC loads……Page 127
3.2.4 Save with Other System Documentation……Page 128
3.3 QUESTIONS FOR SELF-STUDY……Page 136
4.1.1 Planning……Page 138
4.1.4 Seek Cause, not Symptom……Page 139
4.1.7 Keeping Records……Page 140
4.2 TROUBLESHOOTING TABLES……Page 142
4.3.1 System Wiring, Switches, and Fuses……Page 150
4.3.2 Loads……Page 151
4.3.3 Batteries……Page 152
4.3.4 Charge Controllers……Page 154
4.3.5 Inverters……Page 157
4.3.6 Arrays……Page 159
4.4 TROUBLESHOOTING RECORDS……Page 162
4.5 QUESTIONS FOR SELF-STUDY……Page 163
5.1.2 Wiring……Page 166
5.1.5 Grounding Systems……Page 170
5.1.6 Batteries……Page 173
5.1.7 Charge Controllers……Page 177
5.1.8 Inverters……Page 181
5.1.9 Loads……Page 182
5.2 SAMPLE REPAIR RECORD SHEET……Page 183
5.3 QUESTIONS FOR SELF-STUDY……Page 185
6.1.1 Permission to Disconnect Critical Loads……Page 188
6.1.4 Portable Metering……Page 189
6.1.5 Charge Controllers……Page 191
6.1.7 Batteries……Page 192
6.1.8 Arrays……Page 196
6.2.1 Procedures……Page 198
6.3 QUESTIONS FOR SELF-STUDY……Page 202
REFERENCES……Page 204
APPENDIX A……Page 206
APPENDIX B……Page 210
APPENDIX C……Page 222
APPENDIX D……Page 228
APPENDIX E……Page 230