how to calculate pv solar

[nuyu]

hi,
I want to ask about how to calculate solar pv. for my final project, I make hydro solar system. I use two turbines and two AC motor and a DC motor, and I also use the converter. pv solar motor to move the AC and DC motor. so, how many watts should I use for my project. and is appropriate if I use the 120W. and if the 12V is enough for this? This project want to switch to generate electrical power, such as television, refrigerators, washing machines and so on.

[MarineLiner]

Welcome onboard and thanks for joining.

We had discuss

[Sunking]

your question makes no sense. You first have to determine how many volt-amps of AC power each item uses. So let's say your refrigerator uses 750 Volt Amps @ a Power Factor of .8. Now you have to figure out how many watt hours per day the refrigerator uses in a day. Assuming it has a run/off cycle of 33% duty cycle then 750 VA x 24 hours x .33 = 5940 watt hours per day.

Assuming again this is a battery system multiply the above answer by 1.5 to take into account battery system charge and discharge efficiency so 1.5 x 5940 wh = 8910 wh or round up to 9000 wh. This is how much energy your solar panel must generate in a day.

Next step is too look up your solar insolation where you are and use the lowest or worst case day in winter. So let's say it is 3 Sun Hours. Now you can find the solar panel wattage needed to generate 9000 wh per day take the watt hours and divide by the sun hours, so 9000 wh / 3 sun hours = 3000 watts to run the refrigerator.

[jockellis]

Sunking, You brought up a point I've wondered about and that is average sunlight hours. is there any website where one can punch in his location and see the average daily sunlight hours. This, as you have pointed out, is a crucial factor in any PV system.

[Sunking]

Sunking, You brought up a point I've wondered about and that is average sunlight hours. is there any website where one can punch in his location and see the average daily sunlight hours. This, as you have pointed out, is a crucial factor in any PV system.

Sure try this. Download your state and look it up. Warning here though for a battery system you do not use the yearly average, you use the shortest month like December or January.

[Mike90250]

PVWATTS.ORG is the site I like, has a couple of ways to caculate expected harvest.