FEU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

MEPPLANT – 1TSY2021
POWER PLANT ENGINEERING
DESIGN PROJECT

Submitted by:

Aceron, Jessa
Bactad, Enrico Maco A.
Del Pilar, Kathleen
Nacua, Simrie
Rufino, Stephen
Velasco, Richmond Mark

Submitted to:

Engr. Jerome D. Lopena

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………………i
Table of Contents…………………………………………...……………………… ii
Definition of Terms……………………………………………………...………….iv
1.1 Introduction......................................................................................................5
1.3 Major Components............................................................................................5
1.3.3 Solar Inverter.................................................................................................8
1.3.4 Solar Power Meter.......................................................................................10
1.3.5 Solar Panel Racking.....................................................................................10
1.3.6 Circuit Breaker.............................................................................................11
1.3.7 Transformer.................................................................................................12
1.3.8 Solar Power Batteries..................................................................................13
1.4 Design Constraints.........................................................................................13
1.5 Theoretical Considerations.............................................................................17
1.6 Design Calculations........................................................................................17
1.7 Schematic Diagram..............................................................................................19
1.8 Conclusion...........................................................................................................20
1.9 Recommendation.................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................22

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Error: Reference source not found of Solar

Error: Reference source not found Charge

Error: Reference source not found Block

Figure 4. Parts of a Circuit Breaker……………………………………………… 10

Figure 5. Parts of a Transformer……………………………………………………11

Figure 6. Balayan, Batangas on Google Maps…………………...…………...…….13

Figure 7. Santol, Balayan on Google Maps…………………………………………14

Figure 8. Solar Panel Schematic Diagram…………………………………………..17

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Definition of Terms

Photovoltaic Panels - use solar cells to convert solar energy into electricity.

AC and DC Currents - Alternative and Direct currents flow in the circuit breaker and

transformer.

Microinverter - small device that can be genereted by one solar panel and create

alternative current (AC)

Conductor - ability of a material to pass electricity.

Winding - one or more turns of wire creating a coil where electricity passes through.

Magnetic Flux - measurement of the total magnetic field passing through a certain area.

Crystalline Silicon - a semi-conducting material commonly used in solar panels.

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v
 10 MW SOLAR POWER PLANT IN BALAYAN BATANGAS

1.1 Introduction

Solar power systems have a thermal energy storage system component that allows

the solar collector system to heat the energy storage system during the day, that heat will

also be used to produce electricity in the evening or at a cloudy weather. Solar

Photovoltaic power plant will be used to store the energy coming from the sun,

converting it into electricity on a larger scale fit to provide enough renewable energy to

nearby residential areas and other facilities.

Solar Power has been known to be the most abundant resource for renewable

energy since the solar power reaching the Earth's surface is estimated to be 86000 TW ( 1

TW = 10^12 W ) but not all of this can be utilized for human use . Recent studies say that

it is estimated to use the solar power ranging from 400 to 8800 TW due to the limitations

in locations, environmental and land constraints. There are four types of Solar Power

Stations:

1.2 Objective

To design a 100 MW Solar Power Plant on a rural area in Balayan, Batangas by using

Photo-Voltaic Solar Power for additional renewable energy source.

1.3 Major Components

In this study, the researchers will utilize required major components in a Solar

Power Plant which is widely used this current generation due to its abundance especially

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in a country located at the equator like the Philippines. The Solar Power Plant will consist

of solar panels which will harness the sun’s energy, the solar charge controller that will

ensure that the entire system does not overheat and maintain the capacity of energy the

power plant can process; the solar inverter which converts the DC currents into AC

which is then sent to the solar power meter that helps measure the solar radiation flux; the

solar panel racking which will serve as the support, the circuit breaker, transformer and

lastly, the batteries that will store all of the converted electrical energy.

1.3.1 Solar Panels

These are also known as PV or Photovoltaic Panels which is mainly used

to convert the light from the sun, harnessing the protons and is converted to

provide electricity. This form of renewable energy has zero emissions which

makes it a clean source of energy. Every panel consists of multiple cells that is

composed of layers of phosphorus which produces the negative charge, the boron

which produces the positive charge and the silicon which binds them together.

The entire process uses the Photovoltaic Effect which happens when the photons

absorbed hits the surface of the solar panels, the electrons inside repel from their

atomic orbits causing them to be sent into the electric field which is then absorbed

by the solar cells, collecting all those free electrons into one current.

Solar panels should be installed at areas with little to no cloud cover. Due

to the different topographical features of various countries, they tend to set their

solar panels at certain angles to make sure that they can harness solar energy

efficiently. However, since the location of the Philippines is on the equator itself

where the solar energy passes through, there is no need for intricate angle

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requirements for the installation of solar panels. They can be constructed and

installed anywhere that there is open space with enough sunlight.

Figure 1. Process of a Solar Panel

1.3.2 Solar Charge Controller

The solar charge controller can be located in between the batteries and the

solar panels. This component mainly protects the battery or power storage from

being overcharged by adjusting the rate within the capacity of the battery. It also

keeps the battery health in check because it automatically shuts the entire system

when the power storage falls below the 50 percent capacity and it recharges

within its appropriate range. This will result to a longer battery life which enables

it to operate more efficiently. Electrical charge passes through a semiconductor

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which acts like a controller or a valve for the flow of the current. Apart from

keeping the batteries safe from overloading; which if not taken into consideration,

may lead to accidents in the future. It also automatically disconnects the loads that

are not that much of an importance when the battery reaches its minimum

threshold allowing the battery’s main loads to consume the right amount of

energy for operation. It also keeps the current in check to flow at only one

direction since at the evening, there are certain instances where the solar panels

tend to have reverse direction for it’s current and this can cause unnecessary

discharge from the battery. For large scale systems such as a solar power plant, it

is recommended to use double safety protection by installing circuit breakers and

fuses.

Figure 2. Solar charge Controller

1.3.3 Solar Inverter

It converts the energy outputs from the solar panels into electricity by

taking the DC output and transforming it into 120 V/240V current fit for the AC

output which is the one used by consumers for their electricity needs. There are

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five types of Solar Inverters to be installed according to the specific needs. The

first one is the Battery inverters; this is best if the power plant wants to preserve

the batter life by installing a separate inverter for it. This type of inverter converts

the battery power source’s output into a 230 V before sending it to the

switchboard which sends this to lower scale loads instead of the main power grid.

Second is the central inverters, this are the one commonly used in Solar Power

Plants due to its high capacity which can store hundreds of kilowatts up to

megawatts. Third is the hybrid inverters that allows the user to connect the

batteries directly to the solar panels with the use of DC coupling when both

components are attached to the same inverter. Fourth is the microinverters,

estimated to be the same size as that of a book this is only fit for small scale

operations in need individual optimization of the solar panels leading to more

energy when needed. Lastly is the string inverters which is most common for the

household use and got the name due the string of solar panels connected to it.

Figure 3. Inverter Block Diagram

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1.3.4 Solar Power Meter

Devices used to measure the solar radiation flux density (W/m^2) to know

the kilowatt hour production of the Solar Power Plant. In measuring the power

production, the meter measures both the current and voltage. As the current flows

through a conductor, the voltage is also then measured by the force pushing the

current along the said conductor. The current sensor installed along the conductor

is the current transformer.

1.3.5 Solar Panel Racking

This is the base system that enables the user to install the solar panels

safely in various and uneven surfaces such as the roof or rocky terrains. It is well-

known that the solar cells tend to get more solar energy when the solar panels are

installed perpendicular to the sun’s rays. As previously mentioned in this paper,

the angle changes every certain time and season depending on the location of the

power plant or where the solar panels are installed. There are two types of

mounting where the solar panel racking is used.

In choosing the appropriate solar panel racking for the power plant it is

always important to take the following into consideration: available space,

dimensions of the solar panels, number of solar panels and the solar rail selection.

It is always appropriate to choose the longer rail even if it exceeds the calculation

it is okay. To calculate the length of the rail, all the user has to do is multiply the

number of solar panels to its individual width and every panel is attached an upper

and lower rail for support.

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1.3.6 Circuit Breaker

This component is designed to protect the entire electrical circuit of the

solar power plant from over-current, overload and short circuits to happen.

Compared to the fuse, circuit breakers can still be reset even after interruptions

from unseen situations. It has higher initial cost but in the long run, it is more

cost-efficient since it only requires maintenance and not changing the entire

component. It has five components which are: frame, operating mechanism,

contacts, arc extinguisher and trip unit. The frame protects the internal sensitive

parts of the circuit breaker from foreign materials that may damage the

component. The operating mechanism is the on and off switch for the circuit

breaker. Contacts allow the current to still pass through the circuit breaker even if

the component is completely turned off. The arc extinguisher keeps the entire

circuit breaker from a fault and automatically shuts the component off. Lastly, the

trip unit keeps the circuit breaker safe in the event of overloading and short

circuits.

Figure 4. Parts of a Circuit Breaker

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1.3.7 Transformer

This component acts as a connector because it can transfer electricity from

one component to the other while maintaining its frequency which means they do

not generate power. It either increases or decreases the amount of AC voltage

using magnetic coupling. The transformer has four primary parts: input and output

connections, winding and the core. The input connections are also known as the

primary side since the main unprocessed power is connected to it. The outer

connections are called the secondary side since this is where the loads are

connected. The winding also has two types: the primary winding draws power

from the main source while the secondary winding delivers the processed voltage

to the loads in the outer connection. Magnetic flux flows through the controlled

path generated by the coil composed of thin laminated layers of thin sheets that

helps reduce heating which is why the materials for the core should have high

thermal conductivity.

Figure 5. Parts of a Transformer

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 1.3.8 Solar Power Batteries

It is important to make sure that the battery to be used for solar power

plants have high-capacity and deep-cycle storage compatibility. Lead and Deep-

cycle batteries are mostly used. However, it is important to take the following into

consideration when choosing other types of batteries: expensive, low efficiencies,

high rate of discharge and can’t keep up with the temperature ranges compared to

the two types of batteries stated before. A good quality deep-cycle battery can last

up to 5 years or more. Lithium-ion batteries can also be an alternative but they do

cost way more but it is more light-weight and doesn’t need maintenance.

1.4 Design Constraints

The design constraints of the proposed power plant are to meet the required

10MW supply, total number of solar panels to be used, environmental constraints, cost

and effectiveness, health and safety.

1.4.1 Design Parameters

The location where the proposed Solar Power Plant will be constructed is

at Balayan, Batangas. The entire area of Balayan Batangas is 108.7 km^2,

equivalent to 10,870 hectares. A simple rule of the thumb to determine how much

area is needed for solar power plants is to take 100 sq. ft for every 1 KW

generated by the solar panels. For a 10 MW solar power plant, the installation of

the solar panels alone is 1,000,000 sq. ft which is equivalent to around 10

hectares. Considering the fact that solar power plants also need extra space for its

accessories it is safe to assume that it will require 20 hectares of land. Solar power

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plants don’t require that much of resources since it can do well with only sunlight

and wide area. The 10 MW is proposed to be constructed on Santol, Balayan

Batangas just within the boarder of Balayan and Canda.

Figure 6. Balayan, Batangas on Google Maps

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 Figure 7. Santol, Balayan on Google Maps

1.4.2 Economic Constraint

Initial cost for installing the solar panels along with its accessories require

an immense amount of capital, but like any other renewable energies the profit

can be harnessed in the long run. After installation, maintenance and additional

manpower are a few things that companies have to think of which will cost way

less in time. Construction of the Solar Power Plant has low carbon emissions

which means it does not contribute any more damage to the environment and

nearby residential areas can enjoy a lower cost of electricity with long term

resources.

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1.4.3 Environmental Constraint

It is a well-known fact that solar energy best suits tropical countries such

as the Philippines due to endless capabilities to harness a good amount of solar

energy with an ease. Unlike other renewable energies, that need other substances

such as fuels and coolants to operate; Solar Power Plants only need panels and it’s

accessories. With low carbon emission, it won’t contribute to the further

destruction in the environment. Instead, it will promote an eco-friendlier resource

of energy that might change the world and help reduce the use of chemicals.

1.4.4 Health and Safety

As a standard Solar Power Plant that uses Crystalline Silicon, aaccording

to Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHs) photovoltaicc is safe since it falls

behold the threshold of toxicity. However, it is not completely free of health risks.

The substances used to clean the solar panels or the PV cell production uses toxic

chemicals such as hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. With that, proper disposal of the

said substances will be strongly implemented especially that the area is not that

far from the neighboring residential areas. The silicon dusts produced by the solar

panels can also pose harm to humans when inhaled, to avoid this, dust

accumulation will be monitored and will make sure to schedule vacuuming the

dust particles off even before they spread. Employees are also required to use

respiratory safety equipment that will filter out the silicone dusts.

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 1.4.5 Social and Ethical

In constructing the Solar Power Plant, it will require a large area which

means it will occupy a decent amount of land. The area itself doesn’t have any

trees, but the local residents may have used it as a farm plot for planting rice or

sugar canes. Balayan Batangas is best known for their anchovy products because

they located near the Taal Lake, but farming is still one of it’s major source of

income for the residents. An alternative solution for this is to open up job

opportunities in the Solar Power Plant, primarily accepting locals to help them

have an alternative source of income.

1.5 Theoretical Considerations

Power Generated = Total number of Solar panels * Solar Panel Power Output

Cost of all Solar Panels = Amount of Solar Panels * Cost of Each Solar Panels

Area of each Solar Panels * Total number of solar panels

1.6 Design Calculations

1.6.1 Amount of solar panels

Power Generated = 10 MW = 10,000,000 W

Solar Panel Power Output = 8 MW

Power Generated = Total number of Solar panels * Solar Panel Power Output

10MW = Total number of Solar Panels * 450 W = 23,000 pcs. of Solar Panels

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1.6.2 Cost of all Solar Panels

Total number of Solar Panels = 23,000 pcs.

Cost of Each Solar Panels = P 7,500 each

Cost of all Solar Panels = Amount of Solar Panels * Cost of Each Solar Panels

23,000 pcs. * P 7,500 = P172.5 million

1.6.3 Area of the Target Location

Area of each Solar Panels = 5.9 x 3.41 ft. is equal to approximately 20.119 sq. ft.

Area of each Solar Panels * Total number of solar panels

20.119 sq. ft x 23,000 panels = 462,737 sq. ft or 4.30 hectares

Assuming that there are accessories = 4.30 hectares * 2

Therefore, a total of 8.6 hectares of land is needed. An excess of 1.4 hectares for

the offices and roads for easier access the overall area required for the Solar

Power Plant is 10 hectares.

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1.7 Schematic Diagram

Figure 8. Solar Panel Schematic Diagram

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1.8 Conclusion

The researchers were able to design a solar power that will provide electricity to a

rural area as well as provide an alternative job opportunity for the local residents in

Balayan, Batangas. Initial cost may seem expensive but in the long run, there is more

profit to gain. The calculated required area was approximately equal to the theoretical

area which showcased the accuracy of the computations within this design. A 10 MW

Solar Power Plant will be a good source of alternative renewable energy in the area.

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1.9 Recommendations

To test if our design and calculations are accurate, it is better to have an actual

construction and testing of this plant but it would cost millions. Furthermore, our plant’s

generated power is very low compared to the other existing solar power plants in the

Philippines and it would be better to expand it by efficiently using the area where this

plant will be built. It is also recommended to see the actual location to see the different

factors that would affect this power plant’s design and also the factors that surrounds this

area.

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REFERENCES

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Hu, A. , Levis, S., Meehl, G., Han, W., Washington, W.M., Oleson, K., Strand. W.G.
(2015). Impact of solar panels on global climate Naiure Climate Change, 6(3), 290-294.

Rogner, H., [Link] (20212). Globalenergy Assessment-Toward a Sustainable Future, Ch. 7,

[Link]
does-it-work#:~:text=A%20solar%20inverter%20works%20by,%2C%20or
%20'AC'%20output.&text=The%20inverter%20grabs%20the%20energy,spits%20out
%20an%20AC%20output.

[Link]

[Link]
%3A%20Solar%2DLog.,production%20from%20a%20PV%20system.&text=Solar
%20meters%20collect%20PV%20yield,and%20analyze%20PV%20plant
%20performance.

[Link]
system#:~:text=Also%20called%20photovoltaic%20mounting%20systems,to
%20existing%20rooftops%20and%20structures.

[Link]
to-know-about-designing-your-solar-energy-system/

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Figure 2 : [Link]
controller/pmw-solar-charge-controllers/pwm-solar-charge-controller-12v-24v-lcd-
display-dual-usb-solar-panel-charge-regulator/
Figure 3: [Link]
diagram_fig2_312407504

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