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Multiple inverters pv system

Currently I try to model a photovoltaic system in EnergyPlus. This photovoltaic system has 31 inverters. Each inverter is connected to a certain part of the total PV array. All of the inverters a located in one room of the building. My question is: What is the best way to model this in EnergyPlus?

Regarding to the inverter, I use ELCD:Inverter:LookUpTable. The modelled PV surfaces in SketchUp are all defined in Building:Surface:Detailed. image description There are around 4000 PV panels and 31 inverters. I didn't drawn all the PV panels individually, but drawn rows of PV panels.

Image of building I modelled in SketchUp with Euclid plugin

C:\fakepath\Euclid PV modelling.png

Everytime I open the same IDF file in SketchUp the PV panels are moved. I've tried to make a group of all the PV surfaces I modelled, but that didn't work. Is this a problem when I simulate the IDF in EnergyPlus regarding to the outputs? And if so, how do I prevent the PV surfaces from moving everytime I open the IDF file in SketchUp?

Tess's avatar
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Tess
asked 2017-09-18 00:30:33 -0500, updated 2017-09-29 07:39:04 -0500
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You can either lump them into one, or you can define 5 PV arrays (Generator:Photovoltaic) each with their own inverter.

Which one you choose depends on how detailed of a simulation you're doing. If you're using ELCD:Inverter:Simple, there's no point in going through the hassle of creating 5 arrays, I'd just lump them. If you use another type of inverters, then maybe it's worth the extra work.

If you choose to break them into 5, and they are currently in the same surface, you'll need to subdivise the surface into 5 too.

Julien Marrec's avatar
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Julien Marrec
answered 2017-09-20 02:48:04 -0500
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@Julien Marrec What I understand from you is that I have to lump all the PV arrays together and connect them to one inverter. Is that correct? But how do I lump all the PV arrays together and lump the inverters together? Because of the many inverters would lumping them together won't give me unrealistic outputs?

I'm pretty new with EnergyPlus, so I don't know very much :)

Tess's avatar Tess (2017-09-20 03:40:20 -0500) edit
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