POW 3 PART 1: Research and Calculations

Ethan Sullivan
2/20/15
P.1

You will complete all your work in this document, preferably with a partner (1 other person). Use non-bold text to
answer the questions. Insert diagrams and excel graphs where indicated. Have fun learning about solar panels
and applying what you know about trig/mathematics!
PROBLEM: What is the optimal combination of azimuth and tilt to maximize solar gain (kWh per year) from a 5kW
photovoltaic system in La Plata County, Colorado?
RESEARCH (10 pts)
Do some research on photovoltaic systems using the NREL site and other sites as indicated. List your sources.
Define/explain the following terms: You may directly quote the NREL site, but please indicate this in your definitions, i.e.
According to NREL, the tilt is ..
What are
photovoltaic cells
(i.e. solar panel
cells)? Briefly
describe how they
work.

A photovoltaic cell is the same thing as a solar cell. This a device that converts energy of light
directly into light.

SOURCE FOR
ABOVE INFO:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaics

What is NREL?

The NREl is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The NREL mission is to come up with
creative answers to energy problems that exist out in the world. Also, NREl researchers are really
working to change the way the world uses energy.

What is the
PVWatts Calcuator
by NREL? What

The PVwatts calculator calculates the energy production and cost of energy throughout the world.
It also allows certain people to easily calculate the performance of PV installations.

does it do?

SOURCE FOR
NREL INFO:

http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.php

Define/explain the different SYSTEM INFO settings for the PVWatts Calculator (1-5 sentences for each, use more
if needed and include diagrams if needed):

System Size

The system size is the direct current power rating of the photovoltaic array in Kilo Watts. There are
also a couple different ways to calculate the system size by doing Size (kW) = Array Area (m) 1
kW/m Module Efficiency (%)
or Size (kW) = Module Nameplate Size (W) Number of Modules 1,000 W/kW.

Module Type

The module type descibes the photovolatic modules in the array.

Array Type

The array type describes whether the array types are fixed or if there is movement of the sun
across the sky with one or two axes of rotation.

System Losses

System losses are performance losses that you could expect in a real system involving calculating
watts.

System Loss
Categories (List)

There are 8 different system loss categories snow, mismatch, wiring, connections, Light-Induced
Degradation, Nameplate rating, Age, and Avaliability. All the contribute to system losses when
calculating.

Tilt * MOST
IMPORTANT!

THe tilt angle is a horizontal angle from the photovoltaic modules in the array. The way to
calculate the tilt is by using rise/run and calculating it with tangent in your calculator to give you
the tilt to use.

Azimuth What is
it? Hows it relate
to true North?
*MOST
IMPORTANT!

The azimuth is the angle clockwise from the true north of the direction the array faces. The
azimuth relates to true north because for the northern hemisphere increasing the azimuth angle
brings up afternoon energy production and decreasing the azimuth angle brings up morning
energy production. This is the opposite for the southeren hemisphere

DC to AC Size
Ratio

The DC to AC ratio is basically the ratio of the ACs rated size to the DCs rated size.

Inverter Efficiency

The inverter efficiency is a DC to AC converter technique. And it is also the AC power output
divided by its rated DC power output.

SYSTEM PARAMETERS TO INPUT:

DC System Size (kW): 5
Module Type: Standard
Array Type: Fixed Roof Mount
System Losses (%): 18
*We will vary Tilt and Azimuth below and look at how this affects kWh per year output from the PV system by graphing the
results we find.*
PLAYING WITH TILT (10 pts)
Step 1: Choose an azimuth to test: 45o, 90o, 180o, 225o, 270o, 315o
Which azimuth did you choose: ___135____________
Step 2: Vary the tilt of the solar panels according to the chart below and record the power output per year in the
table below.
YOU MUST CALCULATE THE TILT USING TRIG. Explain your steps to determine the tilt given the pitch below,
INCLUDE A DIAGRAM.

To determine the pitch I used trigonometry to get the tilt. I would then use rise over run for the
roof pitch and calculate it with tangent to find the tilt.
Roof pitch as
rise/run

Tilt (degrees)

kWh per year output for

a given azimuth

3/12

14

8,026

4/12

18.5

8,077

5/12

22.6

8,207

6/12

26.6

8,311

7/12

30.3

8,380

8/12

33.7

8,421

9/12

36.9

8,444

10/12

39.8

11/12

42.5

8,460

12/12

45

8,448

Step 3: Graph the kWh per year output (y-axis) versus Tilt (x-axis) using Excel. Label your axes and scales. Use
a line graph to plot. Insert graph below.

Step 4: Answer this question. Based on this graph, what is the optimal tilt (max kWh per year) for this azimuth?
PLAYING WITH AZIMUTH (10 pts)

Tilt Kept Constant at: ___45____________

Step 2: Vary the tilt of the solar panels according to the chart below and record the power output per year in the
table below.
Azimuth

kWh per year output

for a given azimuth

4,238

45

5,645

90

7,781

135

8,862

180

9,027

225

8,483

270

7,332

315

5,233

Step 3: Graph the kWh per year output (y-axis) versus Azimuth (x-axis) using Excel. Label your axes and scales.
Use a line graph to plot. Insert graph below.

Step 4: Answer this question. Based on this graph, what is the optimal azimuth (ma
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above calculations, what do you think the optimal combination of azimuth and tilt
is for optimizing kWh per year output from a 5kW PV system in La Plata County? How can you test this?
I think the best combination for azimuth and tilt for optimizing kWh per year was an azimuth of 135
degrees and a KWh of 9,027. This was the best combination because with having that azimuth it resulted in the
highest KWh and having that is what is ideal for this type of problem. 135 degrees was actually the azimuth I
came up with to use and the azimuth I chose was the best combination of tilt and azimuth. The best way to test
this would be by setting up a diagram with the numbers and calculate it. Overall, this was an interesting POW
that I gained a lot of new information about trigonometry from that I would recommend again for future classes.

CHALLENGE EXTENSION- CHOOSE ONE:

1) Measure the pitch of two roof lines on your house or a house you can access. And determine the azimuth of
these two roof lines. Then use the calculator and the parameters above to calculate the kWh per year output for
each roof line. Which roof would you put the 5kW system on?
2) Do some research on novel PV cells. Write a one-page summary of your findings. Cite your sources.
3) Do some research on the cost of solar panels/PV systems. What is the payoff period for your optimal system?
Cite/reference your sources.