Weather can change dramatically every day at a solar farm. To guard your revenue-generating equipment when you are counting on it to be up and running (to generate electricity), you need equipment protection that will not let you down. In the case of IDIS India’s I-closure Solar Farm enclosure, you are guaranteed IP65 protection, meaning it will be protected from the elements and can be used in ground-mount applications. However, choosing an enclosure should be based on much more than just weather protection. You must also consider the following factors: UV Protection; Proper Cable Management; Maintenance Crew Accessibility. IDIS India’s Polycarbonate enclosures have been designed to handle all these challenges while also complying with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for utility scale projects.
Ground Mount Foundation Integration
The enclosures for ground mount solar systems should work with the racking system that you have. The design of the foundation sets the stage for everything from the pole mounting arrangement to where the cables will be routed. The I-closure product line has many different mounting options to suit many types of ground mount structures. Our pole mount brackets are designed for use with standard 76 mm and 89 mm galvanized poles, which are often used in solar farms. The mounting hardware is made of SS304 stainless steel to prevent corrosion in an outside environment. Wall mount arrangements make it easy to place the enclosures close to the inverter station or electrical room. The mounting method is designed for quick installation and maintains proper clearances for ventilation and servicing. The cable entry holes will be in line with what would be typical conduit runs from the solar array. M20 and M25 provide IP65 sealing and will allow for multiple DC strings or AC feeder cables to pass through them. This will reduce the amount of installation time required and create positive weatherproof connections.
Solar Farm Wind Load Engineering
Wind forces in exposed areas are significant and enclosures in these areas must withstand the effects of continuous and variable wind events without loosening so as to not lose their functionality. Our polycarbonate enclosures have been shown to have much greater resistance to water penetration from wind-driven rain as compared to metal enclosures. The flexibility of the material also permits the material to absorb the stresses of wind without failure (cracking). Multiple latch points are utilized in the lid retention system to provide additional assurance that the seal of the enclosure will remain intact during high wind events. The mounting bracket design has also been produced with consideration for the possibility of wind uplift forces. As a result, the mounting hardware distributes the weight of the object being mounted across the whole mounting platform and does not concentrate stress at any one point (mounting point). This dispersal of load will minimize the risk of failure in the mounting hardware and therefore affect both electrical safe operation and provide for a weatherproof barrier. The design of the ventilation openings allows for equalization of pressure in-side the enclosure due to the atmospheric changes of the weather. Our louvered systems provide an IP65 barrier protection while providing for the equalization of pressure and reducing the load on the seal and mounting hardware.
Standard Sizes for Solar Applications
| Application | Typical Size (mm) | String Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| String Combiner Box | 300x200x150 | 4-6 strings |
| Array Junction Box | 400x300x200 | 8-12 strings |
| DCDB/ACDB Housing | 500x400x250 | Multiple arrays |
Multi-Megawatt Array Cable Management
Large solar facilities produce large quantities of direct current power that must be gathered into suitable enclosures as efficiently as possible. Therefore, your enclosure layout affects both the expense of installation as well as your long-term reliability of your installation. Additionally, you should place string combiner boxes to minimize the length of DC cables, while providing easily accessible locations for maintenance. IDIS India enclosures can assess multiple combiner box configurations and allow for custom cable entries. When allocating the internal space in your string combiner enclosure you also need to include space for surge protection devices, various monitoring devices and any fusing/circuit protection for strings being collected. Our string combiner housings have sufficient depth for standard components, while retaining a small external footprint – providing a way to minimize material expenses. When using DCDB enclosures, you will require space for multiple string connections, your main circuit breaker and your monitoring system(s). The internal design of the housing will provide an organized way to route your DC cables, helping to simplify both troubleshooting and the amount of time it takes to maintain the installation. Additionally, the selection of cable glands will impact the speed of your installation and the overall long-term reliability of your installation. PG cable glands with an IP68 rating, will create a water-tight connection that will not degrade over the 25 year design life of the system. M20 sized cable glands will accommodate typical MC4 connector assemblies while M25 sized cable glands can be used for larger AC feeder cables.
Desert Climate UV Degradation Testing
Standard plastics will degrade in desert installations from UV radiation light in 3-5 years. Your enclosures need to be UV stabilized for structural integrity along with appearance throughout the entire warranty period of the system. The I-closure polycarbonate formulation has UV stabilizers that are intended to be exposed outside for 10+ years. The material will not yellow or become embrittled from excessive sun exposure which leads to premature failure in harsh solar environments. In addition to materials, hardware components must also be designed to help prevent degradation due to solar exposure. All SS304 stainless steel hardware components such as latches, hinges and mounting brackets will maintain functionality and performance during continuous exposure to the sun’s rays. Also, your choice of colour will affect the internal temperature of the enclosure and the level of UV absorption. Selecting colour RAL7035 (light grey) will help to reflect heat from sun, while providing a professional appearance. Selecting white will provide the greatest amount of heat reflection for installations in extreme climates; however, white will also show dirt more easily than the light grey option. The gasket materials will require equal levels of UV resistance compared to the enclosure housing; therefore, our EPDM gasket seals will have the ability to maintain elasticity and sealing capabilities throughout the temperature cycles and UV exposure typically experienced in solar park applications.
Utility Scale Maintenance Access Planning
Maintenance crews of solar arrays will require prompt access to electrical components while preserving both the functional safety system as well as maintaining the integrity of the weather seal.
Your design of the enclosure has an impact on not only how efficient maintenance is performed but also affects the long-term reliability of the enclosure.
All latches must have the ability to be operated with either gloved hands, but at the same time have the ability to be opened accidentally. Our quarter-turn latches operate securely and provide visual feedback for confirmation of correct engagement.
The operation only occurs through deliberate action and prevents accidental opening during planned periodic inspections.
The arrangement of internal components will have an impact on the speed of troubleshooting.
A clean organized routing of cables along with clear identification of each item, will significantly reduce time when diagnosing misoperation.
IDIS India is capable of providing you with custom-designed internal mounting rails and/or brackets to meet your particular arrangements of your components.
Condensation on the inside of the enclosure can result in corrosion, rust and/or electrical faults and therefore the quantity of air supplied to the internal area must not exceed that which can provide moisture control.
Louvers designed to be IP65 rated will allow for adequate air movement through the apparatus for cooling electronics and for moisture control.
There is a requirement to provide access clearances for typical maintenance tools and safety equipment.
Access to the enclosure must be done so that a multimeter can be used easily for conducting measurements along with cabling to be replaced or installed with minimal twisting and awkward positions to prevent injury.
PV Field Lightning Protection Systems
Lightning strikes present serious hazards to electrical devices located within photovoltaic systems. Therefore, your enclosure must be able to house surge protective devices and still maintain its previously stated weatherproof characteristics. Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) require that there be sufficient mechanical support and isolation. We have designed the enclosures to allow for standard DIN rail mounting which will make installation and replacement of your SPDs a simple task. The effectiveness of surge protection and the safety associated with installing your SPDs will be positively impacted by the manner in which they are grounded. Our enclosures contain provisions for providing ground conductors as well as bonding jumpers in accordance with the National Electrical Code (NEC). It is important that the entrance design of your cables consider the location of SPDs as well as the connection to the grounding electrode system. Proper routing and entrance designs will help ensure that you do not have ground loops and that you have a short, direct path between the[SF] enclosure and the SPDs, which will also result in better lightning protection performance. In addition to the factors related to grounding, the enclosure material must also ensure that there is no static charge buildup produced or interfere with the operation of the surge protection system. Polycarbonate is the perfect alternative because it provides electrical isolation and permits proper connection to the ground for components within the enclosure.
Solar Farm Security Perimeter Integration
Security systems are commonly integrated in a solar farm with the electrical monitoring and control products. The enclosures are typically used to house the security devices in conjunction with the power electronics. The communications equipment must also be protected from the elements similar to that of the power components. The enclosures designed by IDIS India will accommodate many different types of communication modules, cellular modems, and monitoring systems; all with the required cable management. Tamper resistance will be of concern when housing electronic equipment of considerable value or when housing equipment that provides for human safety. The locking and latching types IDIS India provides will provide the basic security needed while still allowing for authorized personnel to gain access on an emergency basis. Camera and sensor mounting may require some modifications to the enclosures. IDIS India can provide custom cutouts or mounting provisions for security equipment that will integrate with the electrical systems. Access control systems must have reliable power and communications connections. Enclosure designs will provide for the required backup battery systems and communications cables while providing for weather-proof protection for the enclosed components.
Technical Specifications
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Enclosure Specifications, Protection for Your PV Investment, Contact the IDIS Technical Team Today to Get Help With: Size, Mounting and Accessories in Order to Ensure Reliable Long-term Performance.
#IP Protection #Weatherproof #Calendar ##Coloured ##Enclosures ###Hardware #Temperatures #UL ####Standard
IP Rating: IP65 (Weatherproof) – UV Stabilised Polycarbonate – Operating Temperature Range: -40ºC to +85ºC – UV Resistance: 10+ Year. – All Enclosure Hardware: SS304 Stainless Steel. – Cable Glands: M20/M25, PG Types Available. – RAL7035 Grey Standard/White Optional. – Pole Mount and Wall Mounting Options. – Let’s Work Together to Protect Your Solar Farm Investment with Designed Enclosures to Meet Your Project Requirements. Contact IDIS India for Enclosure Specifications Designed Specifically for Your Project Requirements. IDIS Technical Team Will Assist with Size, Mounting and Accessory Selection, to Ensure Reliability and Longevity of the Enclosure.