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Finding The Optimal Equipment
Finding The Optimal Equipment

This article will guide you through the steps of optimizing your solar panel layout for maximum efficiency.

Kayla Treese avatar
Written by Kayla Treese
Updated over a week ago

Introduction:

Welcome to part two of the pile optimization process in PVFARM! This article will guide you through the steps of optimizing your solar panel layout for maximum efficiency. A video of this is also available on PVFARM’s YouTube Channel.

1. Placing Substations

  • Navigate to the layout panel and select "Create Substations."

  • Adjust the substation placement using the transform option

    • Press T to turn on transform

    • Use arrows to move along the X,Y, and Z axis, or center square to free-move.

    • Use CTRL + drag to create additional substations if needed.

    • Exit transform mode by pressing T again.

2. Defining Selected Area

  • Access the Layouts tab and select "Selected Area."

  • Choose boundaries from the list, including buildable areas and exclusion zones.

  • Confirm default settings for solar arrays configuration and hit OK.

3. Initial Layout Generation

  • Run "Generate Layout"

  • Note: Initial generation may take longer than subsequent runs.

4. Refining Solar Array Configuration

  • Adjust solar array configuration settings to optimize layout.

  • Switch alignment to "Align Array Rows" for better constructability.

  • Review total DC power and adjust settings accordingly.

5. Customizing Tracker Selection

  • Explore preset options under "Solar Array Configurations."

  • Choose a specific tracker type and length that best suits your site.

  • Add every multiple of your tracker’s string size possible for evaluation.

6. Analyzing Layout Properties

  • Access the property analysis panel to visualize tracker distribution.

  • Evaluate tracker lengths based on distribution and the following questions:

    • Which ones are being used the least?

    • Which ones would make more sense from a procurement and/or operations perspective?

    • Are longer trackers or shorter trackers the best choice for this layout? Or a combination?

7. Refining Tracker Selection

  • Remove trackers that are low value to the design. You may choose to play with a few different combinations to find the best balance based on the earlier analysis.

  • Be sure to keep an eye on your total DC power as part of this exercise. Removing trackers may simplify the design but there may be a tradeoff on power..

    • If one length configuration is removed that substantially lowers DC power, it can be added back in.

8. Finalizing Layout Configuration

  • Adjust tracker lengths to balance DC power while ensuring constructability or other metrics for your project.

9. Save the final layout version with detailed descriptions for reference.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You've successfully optimized your tracker selection and produced a layout in PVFARM. By following these steps, you've tailored the configuration to maximize efficiency and constructability while meeting your project's requirements. Then move on to the next steps in the optimization process!

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