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Appendix E: Solar Dimensioning:General Data, Component Characteristics

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Glossary >>
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Appendix E: Solar
Dimensioning
Use these tables to collect the necessary data to estimate the required size
of your solar energy system.
General Data
Site Name
Site Latitude (°)
Irradiation Data
Gdm(0), in kWh / m2 per day)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Worst Irradiation Month
Reliability and System Operational Voltage
Days of Autonomy (N)
Nominal Voltage (VNEquip)
383
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384 Appendix E: Solar Dimensioning
Component Characteristics
Solar Panels
Voltage @ Maximum Power (Vpmax)
Current @ Maximum Power (Ipmax)
Panel Type/Model and Power (Wp)
Batteries
Nominal Capacity @ 100 H (CNBat)
Nominal Voltage (VNBat)
Maximum Depth of Discharge (DoDMAX)
or Usable Capacity (CUBat)
Regulator
Nominal Voltage (VNReg)
Maximum Current (ImaxReg)
DC/AC Inverter (if needed)
Nominal Voltage (VNConv)
Instantaneous Power (PIConv)
Performance @ 70% Load
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Appendix E: Solar Dimensioning
385
Loads
Estimated Energy Consumed by the Loads (DC)
Month of Greatest Consumption
# of
x Nominal
x Usage
= Energy
Description
Units
Power
Hours / Day
(Wh/day)
ETOTAL DC
Estimated Energy Consumed by the Loads (AC)
Month of Greatest Consumption
# of
x Nominal
x Usage
= Energy
Description
Units
Power
Hours / Day
(Wh/day)
ETOTAL AC (before converter)
ETOTAL AC (after converter) = ETOTAL AC / 70%
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386 Appendix E: Solar Dimensioning
Finding the Worst Month
Site Name
Site Latitude (°)
Nominal Voltage of the Installation VN
(Month)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
ß
Inclination
Gdm (ß) (kWh/m2
day)
ETOTAL (DC) (Wh/day)
ETOTAL (AC) (Wh/day)
ETOTAL (AC + DC)=
Im (A) = ETOTAL (Wh/day)
1
kW/m2/ (Gdm(ß) x VN)
Worst Month Summary
Worst Month
Im (A)
ImMAX (A) = 1.21 x Im
ETOTAL (AC + DC)
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Appendix E: Solar Dimensioning
387
Final Calculations
Panels
Panels in Series (NPS)
NPS = VN / VPmax =
Panels in Parallel (NPP)
NPP = ImMAX / IPmax =
Total Number of Panels
NTOT = NPS x NPP =
Batteries
ETOTAL(WORST MONTH) /
Necessary Capacity
(CNEC)
VN x N
Nominal Capacity
CNEC / DoDMAX
(CNOM)
Number of Batteries
VN / VNBAT
in Series (NBS)
Cables
Panels >
Batteries >
Main Line
Batteries
Converter
Voltage Drop (Va - Vb)
Thickness (Section)
r x L x ImMAX / (Va - Vb)
mm2/m (for copper) and L is
For cable thickness computation, r = 0.01286
the length in meters.
Table of Contents:
  1. Where to Begin:Purpose of this book, Fitting wireless into your existing network, Wireless networking protocols
  2. A Practical Introduction to Radio Physics:What is a wave?, Polarization
  3. Network Design:Designing the physical network, Mesh networking with OLSR, Estimating capacity
  4. Antennas & Transmission Lines:Cables, Waveguides, Connectors and adapters, Amplifiers
  5. Networking Hardware:Wired wireless, Choosing wireless components, Building an access point from a PC
  6. Security & Monitoring:Physical security, Threats to the network, Authentication
  7. Solar Power:Solar energy, Photovoltaic system components, The battery
  8. Building an Outdoor Node:Waterproof enclosures, Providing power, Mounting considerations
  9. Troubleshooting:Building your team, Proper troubleshooting technique, Common network problems
  10. Economic Sustainability:Create a Mission Statement, Evaluate the Demand for Potential Offerings
  11. Case Studies:General advice, Crossing the divide with a simple bridge in Timbuktu, Networking Mérida State
  12. Appendix A: Resources:Antennas and antenna design, Security
  13. Appendix B: Channel Allocations
  14. Appendix C: Path Loss
  15. Appendix D: Cable Sizes
  16. Appendix E: Solar Dimensioning:General Data, Component Characteristics
  17. Glossary