User Guide

ManualsBrandsPowerOptimal ManualsHeating UnitPOWEROPTIMAL Elon 100 Solar PV Water Heating Unit

www.poweroptimal.com Document Version: 2.08

info@poweroptimal.com Page: 1 of 10

Directors: RA Fearon, FS Moolman, JJ Theron, DM Weber (Independent), IR Jandrell (Independent)

Company registration number: 2012/099947/07

PO Box 5, Kleinmond, 7195

SOLAR PV ARRAY & HEATING ELEMENT SELECTION GUIDE

PowerOptimal Elon® 100

The innovative PowerOptimal Elon® 100 incorporates proprietary solar PV

(photovoltaic) power management technology to allow for direct connection of

solar PV arrays to electric geysers (water heaters) with optimised solar power use

in a single compact unit. The system can be connected to the grid (AC mains) as

well, and intelligently switches between AC and solar power supply. The system

requires no inverter and no battery. It can be connected to standard AC geyser

heating elements and AC thermostats, which translates into the most cost-

effective solar water heating option today.

Document Version:

2.08

Note: Section A provides an easy selection guide for general users. Section B provides a more

detailed and technical selection guide for solar PV designers and engineers.

SECTION A. EASY SELECTION GUIDE: HOW MANY SOLAR PANELS DO I NEED?

The below table shows approximately how much hot water will typically be delivered by different sizes of your

solar PV array in South Africa. The most important factor is the power (in kW

) as opposed to no. of modules.

Solar PV array size

(kW

)

Showers per

day*

50%+ of daily hot

water use provided

for how many people?

How many

people off-grid

for hot water?

Typical number

of solar PV

modules

1 – 1.2

2 - 3 modules

1.2 – 1.6

3 - 4 modules

1.6 – 2

4 - 5 modules

2.4 – 3.2

(two parallel PV strings)

6 - 8 modules

3 – 4

(two parallel PV strings)

8 - 10 modules

* 6-minute showers at 40 °C with 8 litre/min (low-flow) showerheads

Summary of content (10 pages)

PAGE 1
SOLAR PV ARRAY & HEATING ELEMENT SELECTION GUIDE PowerOptimal Elon® 100 The innovative PowerOptimal Elon® 100 incorporates proprietary solar PV (photovoltaic) power management technology to allow for direct connection of solar PV arrays to electric geysers (water heaters) with optimised solar power use in a single compact unit. The system can be connected to the grid (AC mains) as well, and intelligently switches between AC and solar power supply. The system requires no inverter and no battery.
PAGE 2
SECTION A. EASY SELECTION GUIDE: WHAT SIZE HEATING ELEMENT SHOULD I USE? To get the best performance from your Elon® solar PV water heater, it is important that the geyser element is a good match for the size of your solar PV array. This table helps you match the size of the solar PV array with the size of the geyser element. Solar PV array size (kWp) Best matching 2nd choice geyser Geyser (water tank) size geyser element size element size* (litres) (kW) (kW) 1 – 1.2 4 3 100 - 200 1.2 – 1.
PAGE 3
SECTION B. SOLAR PV ARRAY AND HEATING ELEMENT FULL SELECTION GUIDE It is important to match the solar PV array and heating elements for maximum power transfer efficiency. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE: 1. 2. 3. Use Tables 1 to 4 to help you select the right size solar PV array for your needs. Then use Table 5 to find the recommended AC heating element power rating for your selected solar PV array. Use Table 6 to check element & thermostat compatibility with the Elon® 100.
PAGE 4
TABLE 2. ANNUAL AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHOWERS PER DAY The below table indicates the average number of showers per day for which the system will supply hot water over a year period for different solar array peak power ratings. (The amount of water heated will vary with weather conditions, by geographic location and by season. Water heated per day will be significantly lower in winter and significantly higher in summer. These numbers indicate heating capacity – i.e.
PAGE 5
TABLE 3. PERCENTAGE OF ANNUAL HOT WATER REQUIREMENT The below example table indicates what % of the annual hot water requirement will on average be supplied by the system for 2 people each using 80 litres of hot (60 °C) water per day. (The amount of water heated will vary with weather conditions, by geographic location and by season. Water heated per day will be significantly lower in winter and significantly higher in summer. These numbers indicate heating capacity – i.e.
PAGE 6
TABLE 4. PEAK POWER OUTPUT FOR VARIOUS SOLAR MODULES AND ARRAY SIZES The peak power production (Wp) of the modules at STC (Standard Test Conditions: irradiance 1000 W/m², spectrum AM 1.5, module temperature 25 °C) and at NOCT (Nominal Operating Cell Temperature, irradiance 800 W/m², spectrum AM 1.5, module temperature ~43 – 45 °C) are provided by the solar PV module manufacturer. The below table indicates the peak power at STC for a range of solar module power ratings and array sizes.
PAGE 7
2 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 72 or 144 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440 445 450 455 1.17 1.185 1.2 1.215 1.23 1.245 1.26 1.275 1.29 1.305 1.32 1.335 1.35 1.365 Total peak power at STC in kWp for an array of X modules 4 5 6 8 (2 x 4) 10 (2 x 5) modules modules modules modules modules 1.56 1.58 1.6 1.62 1.64 1.66 1.68 1.7 1.72 1.74 1.76 1.78 1.8 1.82 1.95 1.975 2 2.025 2.05 2.075 2.1 2.125 2.
PAGE 8
TABLE 5. SOLAR PV MODULE AND AC HEATING ELEMENT MATCHING GUIDE Contact PowerOptimal for advice on module-element matching if module properties are significantly different to typical values or for advice on bifacial, high voltage & high current modules. Solar PV array size (kWp) Best matching 2nd choice geyser Geyser (water tank) size geyser element size element size* (litres) (kW) (kW) 1 – 1.2 4 3 100 - 200 1.2 – 1.6 3 4 or 2 100 - 200 1.
PAGE 9
TABLE 6. GEYSER ELEMENT & THERMOSTAT COMPATIBILITY GUIDE Element type Screw-in element: Compatible thermostat type VKF-11 thermostat: Comments Element & thermostat have separate electrical connections, so each can be connected (wired) separately to the Elon®. Thus, this element-thermostat combination is directly compatible with the Elon®. (No need to use the bridging wire or element adapter supplied with the Elon® unit.) The thermostat pocket in the element is the right size for the VKF-11 thermostat.
PAGE 10
Element type Spiral element (flange type) with smaller diameter thermostat pocket: Compatible thermostat type TSE thermostat: Thermowatt (RTS) thermostat: Comments The spiral element generally has a smaller thermostat pocket than the screw-in element. The TSE and Thermowatt (RTS) thermostats fit into this smaller pocket. The VKF-11 thermostat requires a larger pocket and does not fit into standard spiral element pockets.