Introduction To Rooftop Solar Power Plant Components

Neha Pathak Kher

Components Involved In RSPP

Components of Solar Power Plant

ElectricalCivil &

Mechanical Monitoring

Electrical Components Of RSPP

PV Module•Electronic device converting sunlight into electricity•Available as Crystalline, thin film and Concentrated PV cells•Wide range between 10 – 400 Wp

Power Conditioning Unit / Inverter•A combined unit of DC to AC power conversion and storage of DC power•Available for Single as well as for Three phase power supply

Junction Box•A device for combining all strings/arrays at single point giving 2 outputs of DC•Available as Array Junction Boxes and Main Junction Boxes•Available with inbuilt Surge Protection Devices

Electrical Components Of RSPP

DC Cables•DC cables are the Solar cables that will be used between PV modules, from modules to Junction Boxes and from Array Junction Boxes to Inverter•These cables are UV protected cables as these are exposed directly or indirectly to day light•These cables are available in size from 1.5 to 400 sqmm

AC Cables•AC cables are used form Inverter to Transformer primary and from Transformer secondary to RMU or to Switchyard and .•These cables are armored 3 or 3.5 or 4 core Cu or Al XLPE insulated GI armored cables.•These are available in LT (650/1100V) and HT (3.3/6.6/11/22/33kV) cables forms

MC4, Branch and Fuse Connectors•MC4 and MC 3 connectors are used to accommodate different insulation diameter solar cables and used to interconnect two modules•The branch connectors are used to connect different strings

Electrical And Monitoring Components Of RSPP

Earth Pit•For protection of all electrical as well as mechanical structures against earth faults earth pits are provided.•It has an electrode, an earthing strip and chemical compound generally.

Distribution Panel•These are enclosed panels which are used to distribute the generated power from solar to different loads•It consist of MCB/fuses, SPDs of different rating as per requirement of system

Lightning Arrestor•These are used to protect the electrical instruments against lightning.•Based on application these are available as sub station and spike type ( to be used on buildings)

Electrical And Monitoring Components Of RSPP

Weather Monitoring Station• Irradiation, wind, temperature, humidity and precipitation are

some of the measures which are monitored to check the performance of Solar PV plant

• For measuring solar radiations pyranometers are used and for wind speed measurement anemometers are used

SCADA systemIn small scale plant control can be done using MCBs but for large scale power plants for automatic opening and closing of system in case of fault SCADA monitoring is used

Energy Meter• These are basic energy meters which can be used as per

consumer connection i.e 1-phase or 3-phase, domestic or industrial.

• These energy meters monitor different parameters of system like line current, phase voltage, frequency, power factor, active energy , maximum demand, etc

Civil And Mechanical Components Of RSPP

Module Mounting Structure•MMS are designed based on type of base, for flat roof or ground mount system foundation based structures are mounted , nowadays ballasted roof mounting is most common and for sloped or pitched roof rail structure is implemented •MMs material are generally aluminium alloys or stainless steel for ground mount mostly hot dip galvanized steel is used

Mounting Structure Foundations•Combined or Isolated footing are done on flat roofs•PCC foundations are most common•M-20 or M-25 grade material is used as per strength requirement

Inverter or Junction Box Mounting / Wall Support Structure •Small Inverters or Array Junction Boxes can be wall mounted•These can be supported on rails or on rear panels or mount brackets

Miscellaneous Components Of RSPP

Cable glands•It is a device designed to attach and secure the end of a cable to the equipment•These are available in brass , aluminium, stainless steel or plastic form

Cable Lugs•Used to connect cables to electrical appliances, other cables, surfaces, and mechanisms•These are available in different types as copper ring type, tubular type, pin type, aluminium lug , battery lugs, etc.

Miscellaneous Components Of RSPP

Cable ties, ferrules•Cable ties are used to avoid hanging of cables and also give aesthetic look to system•Ferrules can be used in marking or labeling cables•Ferrules can be sleeve type or universal T type

Cable Trays•Used to support insulated electric cables used for power distribution and communication. •Available in GI, galvanized steel, stainless steel aluminum, or glass-fiber reinforced plastic•These are either Ladder type or perforated type

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