[Tutorial] PV*SOL Premium – The New 3D Features 2017 (PV System - Miami Usa)

 

[Transkript]

 

1. Better zooming and handling

2. Make polygons rectangular

3. Extrude to the longest edge

    & Edge selection for the roof inclination

4. Set border spacing for complex roofs

5. Automatic parapet walls for complex roof shapes

6. Reduce or enlarge module rows

7. Cut module rows

 

1. Better zooming and handling

 

From version 2017 R6 you can control a map section more precisely by placing the mouse cursor on a specific point and then rotating the scroll wheel.

First we draw the floor plan of the building.

In version 2017 R6 the map section can now also be moved with the right mouse button, which accelerates tracing.

The edge dimensions are displayed continuously when drawing the floor plan edges.

 

2. Make polygons rectangular

 

To make a drawn polygon rectangular, right-click inside the polygon and select "Make at a right angle" in the popup menu.

You can see that the polygon has been slightly straightened. The right-angled orientation of the edges takes place here initially with respect to the longest edge of the polygon.

With this method, only the edges at the corners which already have an angle of approximately 90° are straightened!

The corners which have been corrected are now fixed "at right angles" and marked with this symbol.

From version 2017, the edge segments of a polygon can now also be moved separately. If both points of an edge are fixed at right angles, the edge is shifted in parallel.

The changing dimensions are continually displayed and updated.

If a corner point is fixed at a right angle, it can also only be moved along the edge where it is positioned.

How to make a whole polygon right-angled has been demonstrated so far. But the corner points can also be edited individually and made at right angles.

To do this, right-click on a corner point and choose “Edit” from the context menu.

To remove a fixed corner first, remove the checkmark "Align at a right angle" and close the dialog.

The corner is now freely movable again..

.. and can be fixed separately at right angles. Double-click on the corner.

Then click on this button.

The corner is now at right angles again.

 

3. Extrude to the longest edge

    & Edge selection for the roof inclination

 

If the extrusion only took place to the south, the object is now aligned to the longest edge.

We first extrude the present polygon.

Next we will edit the object.

The "Edit" dialog of the arbitrary 3D object has changed slightly compared to the previous version.

At the top left is a new drop-down menu for selecting the edge to which the roof is to be tilted. The longest edge is preset.

To assign the edges, the numbers are displayed on the 3D object.

The orientation of the adjusted edge can be checked here.

Let us first change the slope to the preset edge.

You can see how the "slope" of the roof aligns with the edge.

We now select another edge.

It is also possible to orient the roof freely. For this you must set "No Selection" in the drop-down menu.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The edge selected here is not only important for the roof pitch. For flat roofs this is the reference edge to which the PV modules or module rows are later aligned!

We select edge 10 in the following, since we want to align the module series 90° to the longitudinal edge.

As you can see, the module rows are aligned south-east, parallel to edge 10.

We remove the rows and build some structures on the building.

 

4. Set border spacing for complex roofs

 

Since version 2017, it is now possible to enter the edge distance measured from each edge. Previously, it was only possible to define margins for 4 main directions.                                                                                                        

We open the dialog "Edge Distances".

The dialog now also has a table in which a separate edge spacing can be entered for each edge.

The assignment here is also made via digits, which are shown above the edges.

A common edge distance can still be defined for all edges.

.. and there are some preset edge distances.

If, however, separate edge distances are to be defined, then the checkmark must be removed from this checkbox..

.. and values can be entered in the corresponding column of the table.

The “Restricted Distances” of the superstructures can now also be entered separately for each edge.

For this purpose, we place a shed roof on the roof.

To change the restricted distances, right-click on the object and select "Restricted Distances" in the context menu.

Proceed in exactly the same way as with the edge distances.

 

5. Automatic parapet walls for complex roof shapes

 

Previously, a parapet wall could only be erected on roofs of low inclination with the shape of a rectangle. Now a parapet wall can be generated automatically even in the case of arbitrarily shaped 3D objects.

Click on this button.

For a parapet wall, only the width and the height must be defined. The lengths are determined by the adaptation of the attic to the roof edges.

A parapet wall can be edited like the other 3D objects, but is always replaced.

Before the next step, we first have to create the superstructures on the roof and draw barred areas in the unprofitable areas. I've already prepared this.

I have prepared a single-row mounting system for mounted modules and have done an automatic module assignment.

In the next step, we place the module rows to the right of the center "right-aligned".

To do this, select the relevant row of modules, right-click on the mark, and choose "Right-Aligned" from the context menu.

 

6. Reduce or enlarge module rows

 

Next, we want to work on the highly shaded rows, and we therefore first determine a shading frequency distribution.

The rows that are shaded more than 15% are considered uneconomical (Attention: Freely chosen). We reduce some of these rows.

Click on this button. (Caution: The shading will be deleted when reducing or enlarging rows!)

Move the mouse to the left or right edge of a module row.

An arrow symbol appears as a mouse cursor.

Drag the mouse while holding down the left mouse button.

You can also enlarge a row by dragging the mouse in the other direction.

This works on both sides of the row.

As long as the mode for reducing and enlarging the module rows is active, the rows can also be easily moved with the mouse within the grid.

This mode is terminated with the right mouse button, with Escape or by deactivating the button.

 

7. Cut module rows

 

To split module rows, click this button.

Move the mouse over the rows you want to split. A red separation line appears.

If you are between two modules, click the left mouse button to split the row.

The cut rows can now be treated as separate rows and, for example, separately interconnected, reduced, enlarged or deleted.

End of the tutorial. Thank you for your attention!

 

Outro

 

The computer program featured is PV*SOL premium, a design software from Valentin Software in the fields of photovoltaics and renewable energy. The software focuses on design support and yield calculation. The integrated 3D visualization determines the impact of shading on the yield. PV*SOL premium also calculates the cost-effectiveness of photovoltaic systems with and without self-consumption.

More information and free trial versions:

www.valentin-software.com

 

Description tags:

 

Type of video:

Tutorial, Lesson, Exercise, Practice, Presentation, Demonstration

 

Type of featured software:

PV-SOL premium:

Photovoltaic Application, Solar Calculator, 3D-Visualization, CAD-Tool, 3D-Sketchup-Tool, Shading Generator, Time-Step Simulation Program, Planning Software, Calculation Program, Spreadsheet Program, Economy Software

 

Features:

(Virtual) Photovoltaic System, PV Module, Solar Module, Solar Panel, Solar Cells, PV Array, Free Standing, Rack Mounted Arrays, Inverter, Inverter Configuration, PV Array Configuration, Grid-connected System, Stand-alone PV Systems, Planning, Sizing, Commissioning, System Concept, Inverter Concept, Electricity Consumption, Yield Calculation, Storage, MPP Tracking, 3D-Visualization, Shading Analysis, Shading Animation, Profit Calculation, Profitability Assessment

 

Business Field:

Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy, New Energies, Environmental Engineering, Climate Change, Climate Protection, Decentralized Energy Supply, Solar Energies, Photovoltaics, Power Grid, Market Incentive Program, Solar Market,

 

Customers:

PV Planer, Plant Engineers, Craftsmen, Experts, Specialists, Plumbers, Consultants, Installation Firms, Commercial Customers, Manufacturers, System Developers, Universities, Students, Trainees