Get to Know About Electrical Energy that We Consume Every Day
Born and living in this world with the already established grid tie electrical energy supply to our homes, and also the invention of various electrical appliances and electronics devices where all those appliances and devices just can be plugged-and-played, there is a huge possibility that will make us as just a purely end user consumers who simply use the device on a daily basis, and at the end of each month, receive our utility electrical bill to be settled without knowing much about it.
By having some knowledge of at least the electrical appliances and electronic devices that we normally use, including the average hours used per day for each appliances, compared to the energy we used by looking at the utility bills that we pay every month, it will be able to have a significant impact on energy consumption and probably money saving, as well as possibly also to prolong and to extend the life span of each electrical appliances and electronic devices.
It’s Not All About Air Conditioning Only
This is one of the most typical challenges that we face, while designing a PV solar system. One of the most common inquiries that we received is whether PV solar system might be able to generate enough electrical energy to cater required load produced by air conditioning, so that they can save their money in paying their utility bill, because all they know is their air conditioning equipment that cause their utility bill going up high.
By understanding and knowing your appliances and energy capacity for each devices, to some extend it will help to gain a basic understanding that high electrical energy consumption is not only directly related to the use of certain appliances or devices only, but there are many other factors that need to be considered.
For this segment we will share the basic things that need to be taken into account including the steps and methods of calculating the parameters related in designing a PV solar system.
Load (Electrical Appliances and Electronics Devices) Usage Calculation
For example, the following is a list of electrical appliances that one of our customers would like to have.
8 units of solar lights, with a capacity of 50 watts each, wanted to be used for 11 hours a day.
1 unit of Digital Video Recorder (DVR), with a capacity of 24 watts, wanted to be used for 24 hours a day.
1 unit of Close Circuit TV (CCTV) camera, with a capacity of 120 watts, wants to be used for 24 hours a day.
| Appliances/Device Info | Daily Usage (Hour) | Total Electrical Energy (Watt-hour) |
| Solar light, Unit capacity: 50W, Quantity: 8 units, Total watt: 50W*8 = 400W | 11 hours | Watt-hour for solar light = 400W*11hour = 4400 Watt-hour |
| Digital Video Recorder (DVR), Unit capacity: 24W, Quantity: 1 unit, Total watt: 24W*1 = 24W | 24 hours | Watt-hour for DVR = 24W*24hour = 576 Watt-hour |
| CCTV, Unit capacity 120W, Quantity: 1 unit, Total watt: 120W*1 = 120W | 24 hours | Watt-hour for CCTV = 120W*24hour = 2880 Watt-hour |
Total Watt-hour (daily) = 4400 + 576 + 2880 = 7856 Watt-hour of energy is required for daily use |
Amount of Energy Need to Be Generated
Generally in Malaysia, monthly average of solar radiation “peak sun hours” is approximately 4 to 4.5 kWh/m2 per day, that can be translated into average of 4 to 4.5 hours sun per day with regards to 1 kW/m2.
Therefore, the required solar panel capacity is as follows:
Total Solar Panel (Watt) = Daily energy required by load (Watt-hour) / Average sun-per-day (hour)
Total Solar Panel (Watt) = 7856 Watt-hour / 4 hour
Total Solar Panel (Watt) = 1964 Watt
Considering the 20% to 30% of electrical energy loss throughout the system, let’s multiply 1964 Watt with 1.25 which yields 2455 Watt that would be recommended for the capacity of solar panel required.
Energy Storage or Battery Capacity Calculation
Moving on from the electrical energy required based on the load usage estimation which is 7856 Watt-hour, now battery capacity for energy storage could be determined.
Option 1: 24V battery system
Based on Watt’s Law, P = IV,
Where P = 7856 Watt-hour, Voltage = 24V
Battery capacity required (Amp-hour) = Watt-hour / Volt
Battery capacity required (Amp-hour) = 7856 Watt-hour / 24 Volt
Battery capacity required (Amp-hour) = 328 Apm-hour
Option 2: 48V battery system
Based on Watt’s Law, P = IV,
Where P = 7856 Watt-hour, Voltage = 48V
Battery capacity required (Amp-hour) = Watt-hour / Volt
Battery capacity required (Amp-hour) = 7856 Watt-hour / 48 Volt
Battery capacity required (Amp-hour) = 164 Apm-hour
For now, let’s take a closer look and understand about the information we need to determine, starting with the type and quantity of electrical appliances or electronics devices that we have, including the estimated period of time we want to use on a daily basis.
Next, based on that electrical energy (Watt-hour) calculation, you need to determine the amount of solar energy in the form of Watts that need to be generated which will determine the amount of solar PV panels that need to be installed for energy absorption and generation.
After that, from that Watt calculation, you need to determine and make a choice of battery configuration system that you should use for electrical energy storage purposes that will then be used to power up electrical appliances and electronics devices at your home, premises or facility.
In the next article, we will share about solar charge controller and its relation with other parameters and components in designing PV solar system.
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