PV Inverters module strings [RE-wrenches]

[Kent Sheldon]

William, yes I work for the former Trace Technologies, now called Xantrex
Distributed Industrial and Utility Markets Business Unit. I am the POC for
applications questions on the PV series inverter line. Unfortunately, being
that we manufacture inverters, we do not specify specific PV panels, or
arrangements to use with our inverters. This is the job of the system
integrator. What we have done is to specify an allowable voltage operating
window for the inverter. The type or design of the PV module is not
important, as long as the input voltage constraints are met. You must decide
what configuration of PV works best for your application, orientation,
regional location, code requirements, etc. The calculations are rather
straightforward, but require much information specific to the site
installation. I believe Bill Brooks walked you through a possible solution,
which may or may not be adequate for your application.

Regards,

Kent Sheldon
Product Manager - Photovoltaic Engineering Group
Xantrex/Trace Technologies Inc.
925 245 5463/925 245 1022 Fax
kentsheldon at tracetec.com  www.xantrex.com


-----Original Message-----
From: William Miller [mailto:wrmiller at slonet.org]
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 12:28 PM
To: kentsheldon at tracetec.com
Cc: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: PV Inverters module strings [RE-wrenches]


Kent:

Thanks for your reply.  I understand you work for Trace Technologies, the
designer and builder of the PV series inverters.  If you don't have
specific application knowledge, is there someone in your company who does?

I need to know how many SR100 panels to use with a PV5 and a PV10 for a
given climate.  Please correct me if this is not an appropriate question to
ask of a manufacturer.

I would assume this type of question is fundamental to the support of a
product you manufacture and I would be disappointed if Trace Technology
could not give me very precise data to allow me to purchase and use a
product in their line.


Thanks,

William Miller



At 11:57 AM 3/28/01 -0800, you wrote:
>William, sorry to take so long to get back to you. I am inundated right
now.
>Unfortunately, I rarely get involved in the PV array sizing calculations.
>The only advice I can give you is to make sure the peak power voltage stays
>between 330 to 600. NEC drives most of the voltage window constraints,
>however the manufacturer temperature deratings for the specific PV model
>will also impact the calculations. A side note, the inverter will not power
>track below the minimum allowable DC level. So if your PPTV is lower than
>minimum, the power tracker will back off and continue power production at a
>less efficient point on your array curve. Right now the minimum DC
operating
>voltage is around 328. We are putting some new software through UL which
>will allow the minimum bus voltage to be a function of the AC line voltage,
>allowing for operation below 300Vdc. It will be a few months before this is
>available.
>
>Please contact me if you have any further questions.
>
>Kent Sheldon
>Product Manager - Photovoltaic Engineering Group
>Xantrex/Trace Technologies Inc.
>925 245 5463/925 245 1022 Fax
>kentsheldon at tracetec.com  www.xantrex.com
>


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email: wrmiller at slonet.org
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