How to design a EnergyHub System in PV*SOL

Introduction

The EnergyHub system from Ferroamp can be designed and dimensioned in the design tool PV*SOL from Valentin Software. This instruction will guide you step by step how to do this. 

You may configure a Ferroamp EnergyHub System using one of the two methods offered by PV*SOL:

• Without 3D shading visualization: The system is designed by filling in the electrical parameters only.
• With 3D shading visualization: The system is designed visually. Electrical design and shading calculations are performed in the 3D scene itself.

At this time only a system with PV, Solar String Optimizers (SSO:s) and EnergyHub inverters for the EnergyHub system can be simulated in PV*SOL.

Starting a new project

To start a new project:

From the file menu select new Project.

1) Fill in the neccessary information such as project Name and Project Description.

2) Now click "System type, Climate and Grid".

a) Start by choosing a system type to simulate. As mentioned above only Grid-connected PV system with or without Electrical Appliances can be simulated at this time for the EnergyHub system.

b) Fill in climate data such as Country, Location (in the chosen country) and information about the simulation time and AC Mains.

3) You now have the choice of either doing a system planning with a 3D Design or not. Below both scenarios are described seperatly.

A non 3D design

In this section a system design & dimensioning of a non 3D visualization is done. 

1) In the "Type of Design" make sure the "Use 3D Design" check box is clear.

2) Then click PV Modules in the toolbar.

a) Start by setting the number of Module Areas and Shading settings.

b) Then continue to set the data on PV modules for each Module Area. PV module manufacturer, PV Module type, number of PV Modules, Installation Type, Inclination and Orientation.

3) Then click Inverters in the toolbar.

a) Check the "Polystring Configuration" box to start configuration of your EnergyHub system setup.

b) Then choose Ferroamp in the inverter manufacturer menu and a appropiate size of EnergyHub inverter.

Note! Up to a 140kW, the Ferroamp EnergyHub system only uses one scalable EnergyHub inverter. If you install more PV power and/or batteries then 140kW use two or more EnergyHub inverters in parallell.

c) Then check the "Power Optimizer" box and select Ferroamp as the Power Optimizer manufacturer. and the appropiate size of Solar String Optimizer. 

Note! At the time of writing, there is only one product version of Ferroamps SSO, a Single 8kW version. Designed for use with one PV string per SSO. But special rules apply when connecting solar panels to the SSO that have a Impp > 12.5A. For stable operation with high Impp currents above 12.5A, the limit of 720 Vmpp must be reduced by 80 V per ampere above 12.5 A according to: 720V - 80 * (Impp - 12.5A).

Therefore, there are two versions in PV * SOL:

1) Solar String Optimizer Single 8kW (12.5A) - Max 12.5A on selected solar panel and 720V Rpm

2) Solar String Optimizer Single 8kW (13.5A) - Max 13.5A on selected solar panel and 640V Rpm

d) Now add the appropiate number of PV strings with PV modules by clicking "Add Row". 

e) As mentioned above use one Solar String Optimizer per string. do this by setting the numbers of Optimizers per string to 1 as in the example below. 

f) Then set how many PV modules are connected in each string (and to each SSO) in the "Modules in series" box. 

In the example below 20 modules are connected to each PV string and SSO.

g) One SSO has the MPPT range of 100-720V so make sure that the Vmpp of the PV modules connected in a string are within this range.

Note! Because the Ferroamp EnergyHub system works differently then other PV inverter systems and uses Solar String Optimizers, the configuration check in PV*SOL wont work. It will sometimes give you a warning message and a red cross to the left as seen above. This is completely normal and all simulations will still work. Configuration check can still be used to see the minimum and maximum Vmpp voltage of each PV String.

4) Now click "Results" to run the simulation and get your results.

5) Finally click "Presentation" to print the results.

A 3D design

In this section a system design & dimensioning with 3D visualization is done. 

1) In the "Type of Design" make sure the "Use 3D Design" check box is checked.

a) In the Type of System, Select the Grid Connected PV system with or without electrical appliances. 

2) Click 3D Design in the toolbar.

a) In the 3D Design section, click Edit to design the system. 

3) Now proceed with creating the 3D model for the project and place your chosen PV modules on the building. For help with 3D model building and project setup in PV*SOL, check the PV*SOL help and manuals available on the Valentin Software website (http://www.valentin.de/en).

Example 1 - One direction with solar panels

Note! In the example below we are using 40*365W PV modules, 14,6kW in total installed power. The modules are split into two strings of 20 panels each. The EnergyHub system consists of 2  Solar String Optimizers, each connected to one PV string, and both of them connected to a Energyhub Wall 14kW inverter.

a) Select Module Configuration to start configuration of the EnergyHub system. 

b) Then click "Configure all unconfigured modules".

c) Check the "Polystring Configuration" box to start configuration of your EnergyHub system.

d) Choose Ferroamp in the inverter manufacturer menu and a appropiate size of EnergyHub inverter.

Note! Up to a 140kW, the Ferroamp EnergyHub system only uses one scalable EnergyHub inverter. If you install more PV power and/or batteries then 140kW use two or more EnergyHub inverters in parallell.

e) Then check the "Power Optimizer" box and select Ferroamp as the Power Optimizer manufacturer and the appropiate size of Solar String Optimizer. 

Note! At the time of writing only one version of the Ferroamp Solar String Optimizer exists, a Single 8kW version. Designed for use with one PV string per optimizer. In the future other versions might exist so make sure you chose the type and size.

f) Now add the number of PV strings with PV modules by clicking "Add Row". 

e) As mentioned above use one Solar String Optimizer per string. do this by setting the numbers of Optimizers per string to 1 as in the example below. 

f) Then set how many PV modules are connected in each string (and to each SSO) in the "Modules in series" box. 

In the example below 20 modules are connected to each PV string and SSO. This gives us a total of 40 PV modules and 2 SSO:s.

g) One SSO has the MPPT range of 100-720V so make sure that the Vmpp of the PV modules connected in a string are within this range before proceeding.

Note! Because the Ferroamp EnergyHub system works differently then other PV inverter systems and uses Solar String Optimizers, the configuration check in PV*SOL wont work. It will sometimes give you a warning message and a red cross to the left as seen above. This is completely normal and all simulations will still work. Configuration check can still be used to see the minimum and maximum Vmpp voltage of each PV String.

Click OK to return to the main 3D interface. The modules now indicate the string design. In this case we have 2 strings with 20 panels each.

Once you are satisifed with the 3D system design return to the main interface.

4) Now click "Results" to run the simulation and get your results.

5) Finally click "Presentation" to print the results.

Example 2 - Two directions with solar panels

Note! In the example below, we use 57 * 365W solar panels, a total of 20.8kW installed power. The modules are divided into two latitudes with 19 and 34 panels, respectively, in west position and south position. The EnergyHub system consists of 3 solar string optimizers (SSOs), each connected to a solar string, and both connected to an Energyhub Wall 21kW inverter.

a) Select "Module Configuration" to start the configuration of the EnergyHub system.

b) Then click on "Configure all unconfigured modules".

Then select all areas to be connected to an EnergyHub and click "Configure module areas together"

c) Then check the "Polystring Configuration" box to start the configuration of your EnergyHub system.

d) Select Ferroamp in the inverter manufacturer menu and an appropriate size of EnergyHub inverter.

e) Then check the box "Power Optimizer" and select Ferroamp as the manufacturer of the optimizer and the appropriate size of SSO.

Note! Up to 140 kW, the Ferroamp EnergyHub system uses only one scalable EnergyHub. If you are installing more solar cells and / or batteries than 140 kW, install two or more EnergyHubs in parallel.

f) Now add the number of solar strings with solar panels by clicking on "Add Row" and set which string is on which roof.

e) As mentioned above, use one SSO per string. do this by setting the number of optimizers per string to 1 as in the example below.

f) Then set the number of solar modules connected in each string (and to each SSO) in the "Modules in series" box.

g) An SSO has the MPPT range 100-720V so make sure the Vmpp of the solar panels connected in a string is within this range before proceeding.

Note! Because the Ferroamp EnergyHub system works differently from other solar cell systems and uses Solar String Optimizers, the configuration control in PV*SOL does not work. Sometimes it will give you a warning message and a red cross on the left as above. This is perfectly normal and all simulations are still working. The configuration control can still be used to see the minimum and maximum Vmpp voltage for each PV string.

Click OK to return to the 3D interface main menu. The modules now indicate the string design.

When you are satisfied return to the regular menu.

4) Then click on "Results" to run the simulation and get the results.

5) Then click on "Presentation" to write the results.