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PVSystem#

( Circuit Element, PC Element )

EPRI’s OpenDSS Documentation for this component: https://opendss.epri.com/PVSystem.html

#

Name

Type

Default

Units

Description

1

Phases

integer

3

Number of Phases, this PVSystem element. Power is evenly divided among phases.

2

Bus1

string
(bus def.)

Bus to which the PVSystem element is connected. May include specific node specification.

3

kV

real

12.47

kV

Nominal rated (1.0 per unit) voltage, kV, for PVSystem element. For 2- and 3-phase PVSystem elements, specify phase-phase kV. Otherwise, specify actual kV across each branch of the PVSystem element. If 1-phase wye (star or LN), specify phase-neutral kV. If 1-phase delta or phase-phase connected, specify phase-phase kV.

4

Irradiance

real

1.0

Get/set the present irradiance value in kW/sq-m. Used as base value for shape multipliers. Generally entered as peak value for the time period of interest and the yearly, daily, and duty load shape objects are defined as per unit multipliers (just like Loads/Generators).

5

Pmpp

real

500.0

Get/set the rated max power of the PV array for 1.0 kW/sq-m irradiance and a user-selected array temperature. The P-TCurve should be defined relative to the selected array temperature.

6

%Pmpp

real

Upper limit on active power as a percentage of Pmpp.

7

Temperature

real

25.0

Get/set the present Temperature. Used as fixed value corresponding to PTCurve property. A multiplier is obtained from the Pmpp-Temp curve and applied to the nominal Pmpp from the irradiance to determine the net array output.

8

PF

real

Nominally, the power factor for the output power. Setting this property will cause the inverter to operate in constant power factor mode.Enter negative when kW and kvar have opposite signs.
A positive power factor signifies that the PVSystem element produces vars
as is typical for a generator.

9

Conn

string
(from enum. Connection)

Wye

={wye|LN|delta|LL}. Default is wye.

10

kvar

real

Get/set the present kvar value. Setting this property forces the inverter to operate in constant kvar mode.

11

kVA

real

500.0

kVA rating of inverter. Used as the base for Dynamics mode and Harmonics mode values.

12

%CutIn

real

13

%CutOut

real

14

EffCurve

string
(XYcurve name)

An XYCurve object, previously defined, that describes the PER UNIT efficiency vs PER UNIT of rated kVA for the inverter. Inverter output power is discounted by the multiplier obtained from this curve.

15

P-TCurve

string
(XYcurve name)

An XYCurve object, previously defined, that describes the PV array PER UNIT Pmpp vs Temperature curve. Temperature units must agree with the Temperature property and the Temperature shapes used for simulations. The Pmpp values are specified in per unit of the Pmpp value for 1 kW/sq-m irradiance. The value for the temperature at which Pmpp is defined should be 1.0. The net array power is determined by the irradiance * Pmpp * f(Temperature)

16

%R

real

Equivalent percent internal resistance, ohms. Placed in series with internal voltage source for harmonics and dynamics modes. (Limits fault current to about 2 pu if not current limited – see LimitCurrent)

17

%X

real

Equivalent percent internal reactance, ohms. Placed in series with internal voltage source for harmonics and dynamics modes.

18

Model

integer
(from enum. Model)

1

Integer code (default=1) for the model to use for power output variation with voltage. Valid values are:

1:PVSystem element injects a CONSTANT kW at specified power factor.
2:PVSystem element is modeled as a CONSTANT ADMITTANCE.
3:Compute load injection from User-written Model.

19

VMinpu

real

0.9

Minimum per unit voltage for which the Model is assumed to apply. Below this value, the load model reverts to a constant impedance model except for Dynamics model. In Dynamics mode, the current magnitude is limited to the value the power flow would compute for this voltage.

20

VMaxpu

real

1.1

Maximum per unit voltage for which the Model is assumed to apply. Above this value, the load model reverts to a constant impedance model.

21

Balanced

boolean

False

Force balanced current only for 3-phase PVSystems. Forces zero- and negative-sequence to zero.

22

LimitCurrent

boolean

False

Limits current magnitude to Vminpu value for both 1-phase and 3-phase PVSystems similar to Generator Model 7. For 3-phase, limits the positive-sequence current but not the negative-sequence.

23

Yearly

string
(LoadShape name)

Dispatch shape to use for yearly simulations. Must be previously defined as a Loadshape object. If this is not specified, the Daily dispatch shape, if any, is repeated during Yearly solution modes. In the default dispatch mode, the PVSystem element uses this loadshape to trigger State changes.

24

Daily

string
(LoadShape name)

Dispatch shape to use for daily simulations. Must be previously defined as a Loadshape object of 24 hrs, typically. In the default dispatch mode, the PVSystem element uses this loadshape to trigger State changes.

25

Duty

string
(LoadShape name)

Load shape to use for duty cycle dispatch simulations such as for solar ramp rate studies. Must be previously defined as a Loadshape object. Typically would have time intervals of 1-5 seconds. Designate the number of points to solve using the Set Number=xxxx command. If there are fewer points in the actual shape, the shape is assumed to repeat.

26

TYearly

string
(TShape name)

Temperature shape to use for yearly simulations. Must be previously defined as a TShape object. If this is not specified, the Daily dispatch shape, if any, is repeated during Yearly solution modes. The PVSystem element uses this TShape to determine the Pmpp from the Pmpp vs T curve. Units must agree with the Pmpp vs T curve.

27

TDaily

string
(TShape name)

Temperature shape to use for daily simulations. Must be previously defined as a TShape object of 24 hrs, typically. The PVSystem element uses this TShape to determine the Pmpp from the Pmpp vs T curve. Units must agree with the Pmpp vs T curve.

28

TDuty

string
(TShape name)

Temperature shape to use for duty cycle dispatch simulations such as for solar ramp rate studies. Must be previously defined as a TShape object. Typically would have time intervals of 1-5 seconds. Designate the number of points to solve using the Set Number=xxxx command. If there are fewer points in the actual shape, the shape is assumed to repeat. The PVSystem model uses this TShape to determine the Pmpp from the Pmpp vs T curve. Units must agree with the Pmpp vs T curve.

29

Class

integer

1

An arbitrary integer number representing the class of PVSystem element so that PVSystem values may be segregated by class.

30

UserModel

string

Name of DLL containing user-written model, which computes the terminal currents for Dynamics studies, overriding the default model. Set to “none” to negate previous setting.

31

UserData

string

String (in quotes or parentheses) that gets passed to user-written model for defining the data required for that model.

32

DebugTrace

boolean

False

Turn this on to capture the progress of the PVSystem model for each iteration. Creates a separate file for each PVSystem element named “PVSystem_name.csv”.

33

VarFollowInverter

boolean

False

Defaults to False which indicates that the reactive power generation/absorption does not respect the inverter status.When set to True, the PVSystem reactive power generation/absorption will cease when the inverter status is off, due to panel kW dropping below %Cutout. The reactive power generation/absorption will begin again when the panel kW is above %Cutin. When set to False, the PVSystem will generate/absorb reactive power regardless of the status of the inverter.

34

DutyStart

real

0.0

hour

Starting time offset into the duty cycle shape for this PVSystem.

35

WattPriority

boolean

False

Set inverter to watt priority instead of the default var priority

36

PFPriority

boolean

False

Set inverter to operate with PF priority when in constant PF mode. If “Yes”, value assigned to “WattPriority” is neglected. If controlled by an InvControl with either Volt-Var or DRC or both functions activated, PF priority is neglected and “WattPriority” is considered. Default = No.

37

%PMinNoVars

real

Minimum active power as percentage of Pmpp under which there is no vars production/absorption.

38

%PMinkvarMax

real

Minimum active power as percentage of Pmpp that allows the inverter to produce/absorb reactive power up to its kvarMax or kvarMaxAbs.

39

kvarMax

real

Indicates the maximum reactive power GENERATION (un-signed numerical variable in kvar) for the inverter (as an un-signed value). Defaults to kVA rating of the inverter.

40

kvarMaxAbs

real

Indicates the maximum reactive power ABSORPTION (un-signed numerical variable in kvar) for the inverter (as an un-signed value). Defaults to kVA rating of the inverter.

41

kVDC

real

8.0

Indicates the rated voltage (kV) at the input of the inverter at the peak of PV energy production. The value is normally greater or equal to the kV base of the PV system. It is used for dynamics simulation ONLY.

42

Kp

real

0.01

It is the proportional gain for the PI controller within the inverter. Use it to modify the controller response in dynamics simulation mode.

43

PITol

real

0.0

It is the tolerance (%) for the closed loop controller of the inverter. For dynamics simulation mode.

44

SafeVoltage

real

80.0

Indicates the voltage level (%) respect to the base voltage level for which the Inverter will operate. If this threshold is violated, the Inverter will enter safe mode (OFF). For dynamic simulation. By default is 80%

45

SafeMode

boolean

(Read only) Indicates whether the inverter entered (Yes) or not (No) into Safe Mode.

46

DynamicEq

string
(DynamicExp name)

The name of the dynamic equation (DynamicExp) that will be used for defining the dynamic behavior of the generator. If not defined, the generator dynamics will follow the built-in dynamic equation.

47

DynOut

array of strings

The name of the variables within the Dynamic equation that will be used to govern the PVSystem dynamics. This PVsystem model requires 1 output from the dynamic equation:

1. Current.

The output variables need to be defined in the same order.

48

ControlMode

string
(from enum. Inverter Control Mode)

GFL

Defines the control mode for the inverter. By default it is GFL (Grid Following Inverter). Use GFM (Grid Forming Inverter) for energizing islanded microgrids, but, if the device is connected to the grid, it is highly recommended to use GFL.

GFM control mode disables any control action set by the InvControl device.

49

AmpLimit

real

The current limiter per phase for the IBR when operating in GFM mode. This limit is imposed to prevent the IBR to enter into Safe Mode when reaching the IBR power ratings.
Once the IBR reaches this value, it remains there without moving into Safe Mode. This value needs to be set lower than the IBR Amps rating.

50

AmpLimitGain

real

0.8

Use it for fine tunning the current limiter when active, by default is 0.8, it has to be a value between 0.1 and 1. This value allows users to fine tune the IBRs current limiter to match with the user requirements.

51

Spectrum

string
(Spectrum name)

Name of harmonic voltage or current spectrum for this PVSystem element. A harmonic voltage source is assumed for the inverter.

52

BaseFreq

real

Hz

Base Frequency for ratings.

53

Enabled

boolean

True

Indicates whether this element is enabled.

54

Like

string
(PVSystem name)
deprecated

Make like another object, e.g.:

New Capacitor.C2 like=c1 …

Enumerations#

PVSystem: Model#

Value

Description

1

Constant P, PF

2

Constant Y

3

User model