SUS6007 - Battery-based Photovoltaic Design

Course Description

Learner Outcomes

This course will build upon the core concepts from the PV Associate course (enroll concurrently), with a specific emphasis on battery-based system design. Students will work through step-by-step design process for battery-based applications, including stand-alone (off-grid), grid-tied with battery back-up, and hybrid systems.

• Diagram a battery bank in series and parallel configurations
• Identify the proper safety protocols for working with batteries
• Draw a three-line schematic of a residential battery-based system, including the array, controller, batteries, inverter, disconnects, overcurrent protection, and grounding (including the equipment grounding conductors, ungrounded conductors, grounded conductors, the grounding electrode(s), and the system grounds)
• List the pros, cons, and applications of hybrid and AC and DC coupled systems
• Define depth of discharge, days of autonomy, equalization, and efficiency of a battery
• Create a maintenance schedule for batteries
• Calculate maximum charge rates for batteries and determine state of charge
• Identify the pros and cons of using valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) verses flooded batteries in specific system designs
• Specify either a PWM or MPPT charge controller depending on system parameters
• Specify a battery-based inverter given electrical load and surge requirements
• Evaluate a client’s electrical load and size a stand-alone system (including inverter, controller, battery bank, and array)
• Perform sizing calculations for their battery-based system
• Size a grid-tied with battery back-up system (including inverter, controller, battery bank, and array)
• Calculate and diagram appropriate series fusing for a battery-based system
• Identify appropriate disconnect and overcurrent protection placement
• Provide all NEC required labeling for a battery-based system
• List the order of commissioning and decommissioning, as well as potential safety hazards, for battery-based systems