The document discusses balance of system (BOS) components for solar photovoltaic systems. It describes iPLON GmbH, a German company that provides BOS products and services including inverters, mounting structures, cables, connectors and performance monitoring systems. It explains key BOS components like inverters, which convert DC to AC power, and mounting structures that support solar modules. String inverters and central inverters are compared. Technical data for sample inverters and considerations for installation are also summarized.

1. Solar PV – Balance of Systems
Madhavan Nampoothiri, IPLON GmbH
Meenakshi College, Chennai – February 2, 2012

2. Overview
• About iPLON GmbH
• What is BOS?
• Inverters
• Mounting structures
• Cables and connectors
• Performance monitoring systems
• Conclusion

3. About iPLON GmbH
German company with a strong Indian connection!

4. The Indian connection
- Founded by Mr. Victor
Thamburaj
- Alumnus of IIT Madras
- Worked in senior positions
in German companies
before starting iPLON
- Trained Electrical Engineer

5. Schwäbisch Hall – A charming small
town in South Germany

6. iPLON GmbH
- Total lifecycle
management of Solar
farms
- Installed more than 150
MWp in Germany and
Italy
- Located in Schwäbisch
Hall, North of Stuttgart
- India office in Chennai

7. Products and Services of iPLON
Trans- System
Environ- AC Power former / Engineerin Training Application
String Inverter mental Metering Grid g Reviews Comission & and
Monitoring Monitoring Sensors (Evc. connected Document. ing Worksho Application
Monitoring Point) comp. Project ps
Monitoring Mgmt. Support
Solar Infranet
(iAT, iMT, Internet connectivity)
EPC Services O&M

8. What is BOS?
Everything in the “gap” between PV modules & the
Grid

9. PV System

10. PV modules – The most visible part of
a PV system

11. BOS – The unglamorous cousins of PV
modules
– Power Electronics
• Inverters
– Mounting Structures
• Racking - Fixed tilt
• Tracking systems
– Single axis
– Dual axis
– Cables and connectors
– Performance monitoring systems
• Weather stations
• Local monitoring(SCADA – PC based)
• Remote monitoring(Web based)

12. PV System
PV modules
Inverter
Mounting
Structure

13. Inverters
DC to AC Converter

14. What Inverters are good for..
• Converting DC to AC Fancy Fourier
Transformation

15. Inverter features
• High Efficiency
• Low standby loss
• Frequency regulation(50 Hz in India)
• Harmonic distortion control
• Ease of servicing
• Reliability
• Power correction factor

16. Type of Inverters
• Central Inverters(Dominant in emerging
markets)
• String Inverters(Preferred in European
markets)
• Micro- Inverters(Still in development)

17. Central-Inverters
vs.
String-Inverters

18. Central Inverter
PV
Modul Still on DC
e
Level!
Field
Termin
al
Central
Inverter
Field
Termin
al

19. String Inverter
PV
Module Already on
AC level!
Inverter
Grid
Inverter

20. Typical String-Inverters
Source: SMA, Power One, Kaco

21. Typical Technical Data
Source: SMA

22. Typical Central Inverters
Source: SMA, Power One

23. Typical Technical Data
Source: SMA

24. Topology
• Two options:
–Design for „Central Inverters“
–Design for „String Inverters“

25. Central Inverters

26. Central Inverters

27. String Inverters

28. String Inverters

29. Comparison
Central String
Costs + +
Maintenance + ++
Size of plant Large scale only Small to very large
Efficiency + ++ (individual MPP
tracking)
MPP Tracking O ++
Cables O ++

30. Mounting Structures
Modules’ long lasting companion

31. The support..

32. Mounting structures
• The structuring that supports the modules
• Typically aluminum, galvanised iron
• Should be corrosion resistant
• Choose depending on soil, wind and weather
conditions!
• Overwhelming majority : Fixed tilt
• Rare: Single or double-axis trackers

33. Mounting Structures
• Fixed Tilt
• Single Axis
• Double Axis

34. Fixed tilt in Open Areas
Source: Schletter

35. Fixed tilt in Open Areas
Source: Schletter

36. Fixed tilt in Open Areas(Adjustable)
Source: Schletter

38. Tracking systems
Type of Tracking systems
– Manually operated
– Motor operated
• Single Axis
• Dual axis

39. Manually operated
Available in both single axis and dual axis modes

40. Motor Operated
Source: Linak AS

41. Motor Operated
Single axis
Dual axis
Source: Linak AS

42. Cable and Connectors
The electricity carriers

43. Cables
Source: LAPP

44. Connectors
Source: Amphenol Source: MC
Source: MC

45. Performance monitoring systems
Operation and Maintenance

46. Remote Monitoring
• Remote Monitoring
– Gain insights into string current
– String voltage
– Inverter performance
– Error-messages
– Weather conditions

47. Weather measurement
• Energy output directly related to ambient
conditions like
– Amount of sunlight(Irradiation)
– PV Module temperature
– Ambient temperature

48. Irradiation sensors

49. Module and ambient temperature
meaurement

50. Data logging and energy metering

51. iPLON Systems

52. Performance Monitoring Systems
– Weather stations
– Local monitoring(SCADA – PC based)
– Remote monitoring(Web based)

53. PERFORMANCE RATIO

54. Performance Ratio
• Performance Ratio = Most important factor of
a Solar PV System!
– Performance independent from weather condition
– True efficiency of the plant

57. Installation
Concept – to - reality

58. Installation – Also part of BOS
– Engineering and Design
– Project Management
– Civil work
– Laying foundation for mounting structures and installation of
modules on mounting structures
– DC/AC cabling
– Transformer and switch yard construction

59. Conclusion

61. Appendix
• Resources
– SMA.com?
– Sunchaser.com?
– Others?

64. Typical Technical Data(String
Inverter)
Source: Power One

65. Typical Technical Data(String
Inverter)
Source: Kaco

66. Typical Technical Data(Central
Inverter)
Source: Power
One