Step-by-Step Design of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Plants

Davood Naghaviha, Hassan Nikkhajoei, Houshang Karimi

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781119736585
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Energy

How to design a solar power plant, from start to finish

In Step-by-Step Design of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Plants, a team of distinguished engineers delivers a comprehensive reference on PV power plants—and their design—for specialists, experts, and academics. Written in three parts, the book covers the detailed theoretical knowledge required to properly design a PV power plant. It goes on to explore the step-by-step requirements for creating a real-world PV power plant, including parts and components design, mathematical formulations and calculations, analyses, evaluations, and planning.

The book concludes with a discussion of a sample solar plant design, as well as tips on how to avoid common design mistakes, and how to handle the operation and maintenance of PV power plants.

Step-by-Step Design of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Plants also includes:

• Thorough introductions to the basic requirements of design, economic analyses, and investment revenue
• Comprehensive explorations of the requirements for feasibility study and grid connection study
• Introducing solar resource, and determining optimum tilt angle and module inter-row spacing
• Presenting methodology for design of large-scale PV plant, requirements of engineering document, and optimal design algorithm
• In-depth examinations for selecting PV module, inverter, string, and DC side equipment
• Practical discussions of system losses, as well as estimation of yearly electrical energy production, capacity factor, and performance ratio of large-scale PV plant

Perfect for professionals in the solar power industry, Step-by-Step Design of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Plants will also earn a place in the libraries of equipment manufacturers and university professors seeking a one-stop resource for the design of PV power plants.

1
Introduction

1.1 Solar Energy

The source of solar energy is the sun. Solar energy can be classified as heat which is generated by electromagnetic waves, and light which is produced by photons. Solar energy is the main source of most of the other forms of energy available on the Earth. The solar energy is directly or indirectly converted into other forms of energy, e.g. electrical energy produced through photovoltaic (PV) technologies.

The most important feature of solar energy is that it is clean and does not harm the environment. In the long run, PV power plants will make a significant contribution to the supply of primary energy in all sectors including domestic, commercial, industrial, and transportation consumers. Moreover, factors such as government support, price of fossil fuels, cost of gas emissions CO₂, and costs of PV plant equipment affect the growth of PV plant installation capacity [1].

Figure 1.1 shows the energy conversion cycle. It shows that fossil fuels and the renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind and solar energy originate from the sun. The solar energy is stored in chemical bonds through photosynthesis of plants and produces fossil fuels millions of years later.

This book provides an overview of all aspects of designing a large‐scale PV power plant (LS‐PVPP) for the solar energy professionals and the university researchers. The book particularly focuses on the design of all equipment of a large‐scale PV plant from the basic to advanced parts.

1.2 Diverse Solar Energy Applications

Solar energy is used for two groups of applications: non‐power plant and power plant. Figure 1.2 shows various applications of solar energy [2]. Based on Figure 1.2, solar power plants are divided into three categories: solar thermal; PV thermal hybrid; and PV.

Figure 1.1 Energy conversion cycle.

Source: Modified from Twidell and Weir [1].

1.2.1 Solar Thermal Power Plant

In a solar thermal power plant, the solar energy is converted into thermal energy which is then converted into electrical energy. Figure 1.3 shows various types of solar thermal power plants as explained below [3].

1. Parabolic Plant
   The parabolic plant has a linear parabolic collector consisting of few rows of parabolic reflectors. The reflectors absorb the reflected rays of solar radiation and warm up the heat transfer fluid.
2. Central Receiver Plant
   The central receiver plant consists of a set of mirrors, where each separately concentrates solar energy and transmits it to a central receiver tower.
3. Parabolic Dish Plant
   In a parabolic dish plant, the sun's rays reflected on a parabolic surface are concentrated at a focal point. The thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy by a Stirling engine. An electric generator converts the mechanical energy into the electrical energy.
4. Solar Chimney Plant
   In a solar chimney plant, a combination of solar air collectors and air conduction towers are used to produce induced air currents. The currents provide mechanical forces in order to rotate a pressure step turbine coupled to a generator to produce electricity.

   

   Figure 1.2 Various solar power plant categories.

   Source: Dincer and Abu‐Rayash [2].

   

   Figure 1.3 Various applications of solar thermal energy: (a) Parabolic plant, (b) Central receiver plant, (c) Parabolic dish plant, (d) Solar chimney plant, and (e) Fresnel collector plant.

   Source: Modified from González‐Roubaud et al. [3].

5. Fresnel Collector Plant
   The Fresnel collector plant includes flat mirror collectors with low width and long length that collect the incoming sunlight on the concentrator and send it to a receiver tube. The receiver tube heats up the fluid inside the tube.

1.2.2 PV Thermal Hybrid Power Plant

The PV thermal hybrid power plant consists of a combination of PV panels and a solar thermal collector. The PV panels convert the solar radiation into electrical energy. The solar thermal collector absorbs remaining energy of the solar rays and also removes wasted heat from the panels.

1.2.3 PV Power Plant

In a PV power plant, the sun's radiant energy is directly converted into electrical energy. There are two categories of PV power plants: conventional and concentrated. Unlike th...