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Grid-connected system preliminary design

After defining the Location, the System button displays a first screen where you should first define the plane orientation (try dragging little red dots!).

NB: a little tool helps choosing the optimal orientation, or the amount of losses resulting from your choice when not optimal.

Then you have to choose if you want to size your system on the basis of:

  • active area of the collector field,
  • nominal power of the system,
  • annual energy yield.

Pressing "Next" gives a second screen to define system properties, especially from the architect point of view:

  • Module type: "standard" (give also the module power), "translucide custom" (with spaced cells, you should define the filling ratio), or "not yet defined".
  • Technology: will determine the default efficiency, that is the needed area for a given power.
  • Mounting disposition: indicative, not used in calculations,
  • Ventilation property: will slightly influence the efficiency due to module operating temperature.

Now you can open the "Results" which gives the Nominal Power, Area or Annual energy yields, as well as some result graphs, table and economic evaluation (to switch from one to the other please use speed-buttons left).

You can now play with the parameters and immediately see the results.

You can print a report, or store graphs and tables on the clipboard to export to another software.

You can also save your project, and load another one for immediate comparisons.

Computation

The evaluation of the available irradiance on the collector plane uses the Monthly Meteo tool algorithms, and the system energy output computations are done using constant efficiency and correction coefficients according to the chosen system parameters.

The accuracy is of the order of 10 - 20% (worst case for façade installations).

If necessary the coefficients used for this tool may be modified in the Hidden parameters.