PV Toolbox: A Comprehensive Set of PV System Components for the Matlab/Simulink Environment

F. Sheriff, D. Turcotte & M. Ross

Presentation from www.RERinfo.ca

SESCI 2003 CONFERENCE Queens University Kingston, Ontario, Canada August 18 to 20, 2003

Outline
Need for a simulation tool A hybrid system built with PV Toolbox Description of components and features PV Toolbox strengths and constraints Validation using Nunavut Arctic College and Gwaii Haanas monitored data Experimental test design

Need for a Simulation Tool

Flexibility, Accuracy Ease of Use
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PV/Genset Hybrid System

Monitoring

AC

PV Array

Control

Generator AC

Battery Voltage Regulator

DC

DC

Charger

DC

DC

DC Source Center DC

Power Inverter

DC Load Center Battery Storage Bank AC Load Center

DC Load

AC Load

A hybrid system built with PV Toolbox

PV Modules One-diode equivalent circuit Maximum power point tracking (MPPT)

Inverter and Rectifier Based on a quadratic equation

Genset Fuel consumption based on the load Compensated for altitude and temperature Rate of waste heat generation

Battery Tubular floodedvented cell with low antimony grids Absorbed glass mat cell

Control Centre Interface between the power generators, the loads, the power converters and the battery Incorporates the genset controller, a charge controller
Genset controller Allow the user to specify the conditions that start and stop the genset

Thermal Mass Fuel reservoir Components thermal mass

Operation and Maintenance Fuel Maintenance Overhaul Replacement

PV Toolbox Strengths
Flexibility to model any type of PV systems with minor modifications Flexibility to adapt each component and configuration Ability to visualise status at any point of the system

PV Toolbox Constraints
R&D tool Knowledge of Matlab/Simulink software and capital investment Stability issues Execution slower than with other tools

Validation of PV Toolbox
Individual theory and operation validation System operation verification Comparison of simulations against real field data Comparison of simulations against test bench data Comparison of simulations against other simulation tools Improvement at each steps and reiteration

Nunavut Arctic College, Iqaluit

Relative Error Data Source Insolation DC Output 21% 20% AC Output 23% 22%

WATSUN-PV PV Toolbox

11% 11%

Gwaii Haanas Park, BC

Data Source Average Array Output Power (Wh/day) 1087 1113 1389 1120 987 Relative Error

Monitored Data PV Toolbox WATSUN-PV HOMER SOMES

N/A 2.4% 27.8% 3.0% -9.2%

Relative Error in Useful Array Output for Gwaii Haanas

100% PVToolbox Relative Error in Useful Array Output 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 1 -20% -40% Month 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 WatsunPV Homer SOMES

Experimental Test Design

Optimisation by evaluating the influence of : Demand fluctuations in relation with battery bank size Sizing (PV, genset, batteries, loads, inverter, etc.) Use of multiple depth-of-discharge setpoints Use of weather forecasting algorithms Setpoint types (battery voltage or SOC) to start the genset and disconnect the loads

PV Toolbox

To improve the design, operation and control strategies of PV systems in Canadian climatic conditions.

State-of-Charge over the Year According to PV Toolbox, Homer, and SOMES

1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 SOMES, T fix 0.4 0.3 HOMER 0.2 0.1 PVToolbox, 15V Setpoints 0 -0.1 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -0.2 PVToolbox -0.3 Month SOC (based on C/20 capacity)