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V.R. V 204 12 26

TRANSFORMER SIZING FACTOR FOR

SOLAR PV POWER PLANTS
Published on August 31, 2015

This Article Mainly Focusing on the Sizing Factor of Transformer for the Solar Plant
Application. Of course Power Plant needs Step-up Transformer, But While Sizing of
Transformer needs more valuable inputs according to the Inverter and Size of the Power
Plant.

Definition of Transformer:

Transformer is a static Device, It transforms Power From one source to another Source
without Changing Frequency.Transformer always Unity Power Factor Device. It doesn't
have lagging and leading Power Factor. Mainly Transformer Power Factor depends
Load Power Factor.

Transformers are categorized according to the Application. 

I)  Step-up Transformer

II) Step-Down Transformer

III) Auto-Transformer

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VI) Zig-Zag Transformer

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Factors to Consider to Sizing Inverter Transformer:-

I) Power Factor:

Solar Inverters are rated for unity power factor. So Sizing of Transformer should based
on unity power factor, It should not done with 0.8 pf level. Earlier in India, Most of the
PV Plants having Transformer rated with 0.8pf. According to the 0.8pf Transformer
rated as 1.25% as more which is costing as high.

Major Advantage in Solar PV Plant is Inverter, which is delivers power at unity power
factor. If Inverter Capacity is rated for 1000kw, then your transformer also rated for
1000kVA, It couldn't sized to 1250kVA.

II) Loading Capacity:

While finalizing Contract to the Inverter Vendor, Client insist vendor to give Test
Report for Inverter Loading Capacity at different loading period. Normally In India,
Solar radiaton is more in February to June. So Inverter will have more efficient to work
during Feb to June. It reaches the Maximum power as per Name Plate. But it is not
continuous duty. i.e It will stand to deliver power in Minutes of Time during Peak
Energy Generation.

Example: If Inverter having 1000kw capacity, it will deliver maximum power of 950 to
960kW, when solar radiation is peak [March Month having more yield in India].

Transformer Loading Capacity is 95% according to IEC & IS Standards, But most of
the people having wrong idea is that, Transformer Loading Capacity is 80%. When
Transformer reaches more than 95% of its rated capacity, Master Trip Relay
automatically give trip signal to the Breaker. According to 1MVA Transformer, 95%
loading will be 950kVA, Inverter never reaches the name plate rating. So the best way
of Transformer Ratio will be

Inverter Rating of 1kVA = Transformer Rating of 1kVA

III) Transformer Losses:

Transformer losses depending upon its rated capacity of Transformer. Higher Rating of
Transformer having Higher losses, When the Designer implemented the Design of
1250kVA
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Design for the PV Plants]
V.R. V 204 12 26

Here I mentioned Load & No-Load losses of Transformer according to CBIP Norms.

For 11 / 0.433 kV 1000 kVA Transformer 

Load Losses : 10.4 KW & No-Load Losses : 1.4 KW

For 11 / 0.433 kV 1250 kVA Transformer 

Load Losses : 14 KW & No-Load Losses : 2 KW

LARGE SCALE PV PROJECTS [> 5MW]

Large Scale PV Projects say more than 5MW, Separate Power Evacuation System will
Following
come into the Picture. Normally Switchyard is needed for the Large Scale PV Projects. Write an articl

Now Again it needed strong technical input while Sizing of Power Transformer for the
higher size PV Plants. Here I mentioned following Valid points according to this
subject.

Here Power Transformer Should Sized with 0.8 pf. for Example if PV Plant Size is
5 MW, Then Power Transformer Size should be 6.3 MVA.

We aware Pnom Ratio of PV Plant should be 1 : 0.85, According to this

fundamental, If we implementing 5MW of Module Capacity, Actual AC output will
be 4.25MW in Tyre - I Distribution. If we implemented with 6.3 MVA Transformer
will cater 6MW of PV Panel Capacity. i.e In Future you didn't need to change
your swithcyard Configuration, Main Advantage is that you only need to
change in Tyre - I Distribution. Adding 1MW of Inverter with the existing
cluster [Mostly Configuration had RMG Connection]. I developed scheme
according to this subject for Easy Reference.

Option - I [PV Panel Capacity : 5MW, Power Transformer : 6.3 MVA]

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Option - II [PV Panel Capacity : 6MW, Power Transformer : 6.3 MVA]Messaging

Precautions Need to Design PV Plant with Switch yard Design:

Model - II is applicable if land available to adapt addition of 1MW of PV paanel

Capacity, Otherwise this option is not efficient. In case Developer having land for 5MW,
then he need to complete the Power Evacuation System with 5MVA Transformer of
33kV Class. [In some states in India, having 66kV Transmission System]

Here the doubt is Why Again need Power Transformer of 5MVA for the Switchyard, if
the whole system having 33kV Transmission??

If your PV Plant far away from the local Substation, then it will experiences voltage
drop, finally it causes more losses for your whole system during transmission. To avoid
that, Better to placing 5 MVA 33 / 33 KV Transformer with ON-Load Tap Changer will
reduce the losses some part. In Tamil Nadu one of the Existing PV Plant had the above
configuration which I said.

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Bhyresh Ck 2mo
Electrical Design Engineer at Cosmos Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd

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V.R. V chandu
amirineni 204 12 1mo 26
Supervisor maintenance

Sir electrical equipment working details plz send me my mail id amirinenichandu@gmail.com

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V.R. V
Principle Engineer - Renewables , Infrastructure Electrification & Switchyard ( 400KV )

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