Print

Syllabus

Solar PV Fundamentals
ME119

YEAR:

2023-2024

CREDIT HOURS:

3.00

PREREQUISITES:

None

COREQUISITES:

None

COURSE NOTES:

None

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Essentials of solar power systems and components, design and installation, production and maintenance with consideration of safety and codes for wiring, grounding, and construction.

HutchCC INSTITUTION-WIDE OUTCOMES:

  1. Demonstrate the ability to think critically and make reasonable judgments by acquiring, analyzing, combining, and evaluating information.
  2. Demonstrate the skills necessary to access and manipulate information through various technological and traditional methods.
  3. Demonstrate effective communication through reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
  4. Demonstrate effective interpersonal and collaborative skills.
  5. Demonstrate effective quantitative-reasoning and computational skills.

COURSE OUTCOMES AND COMPETENCIES:

  1. Differentiate between various renewable energy sources and types of systems.
    1. Compare the production capabilities between wind and solar.
    2. Consider the differences among grid-tied, grid-tied with battery backup, and stand-alone systems.
  2. Use power and energy calculations.
    1. Define the two types of electrical current (AC and DC) and explain the difference.
    2. Employ OHM'S Law in calculating the relationship among voltage, current, and resistance.
    3. Demonstrate the usage of the energy calculations for solar systems.
  3. Evaluate utility bills and rate plans.
    1. Interpret terminology of electric bills, key information, and procedures used in billing.
    2. Compare utility consumption to solar energy production.
    3. Identify rate plans and types.
  4. Perform a load analysis for a grid tied system, compare production, and consumption.
    1. Measure actual loads for a building and calculate total building consumption.
    2. Evaluate the consumption and compare to production from a solar system.
  5. Select energy efficiency measures to reduce electricity usage and PV system size.
    1. Identify simple efficiency improvements that can be made in a building.
    2. Identify efficiency measures to reduce a PV system size.
  6. Analyze different net metering rules, rebates, and incentives that affect the final cost of a PV system.
    1. Compare the different net metering rules for different states and areas.
    2. Research and compare rebates and incentives from different states and areas.
    3. Calculate the effect on the cost of the PV system.
  7. Identify and list the features, applications, and components of the following PV system types, DC direct, stand-alone, grid-direct, and grid-direct with battery backup.
    1. List the features and applications of the following systems, DC direct, stand-alone, grid-direct, and grid-direct with battery backup.
    2. Identify and describe the basic functions of the different components in a PV system.
  8. Obtain and apply specifications for PV modules and determine their performance under different environmental and operating condition.
    1. Describe the differences among various PV cell technologies.
    2. Identify important points on the IV curve.
    3. Apply different temperature and irradiance readings to voltage and amperage values.
    4. Choose important criteria from module specification sheets.
  9. Use and know the types of digital multi-meters, and how to use them safely.
    1. Identify the types and uses of Digital multi Meters (DMM).
    2. Choose the appropriate meter and the proper setting to measure PV panel an array output.
    3. Observe safety precautions for working on live circuits.
  10. Draw and determine the characteristics of PV modules for power, current, and voltage in series and parallel configurations.
    1. List the characteristics of series and parallel circuits.
    2. Draw a schematic of a PV circuit to match DC voltage criteria.
    3. Calculate the values for voltage, current, and power for different module and array configurations.
    4. Identify the factors that may create dissimilar voltage and amperage characteristics in an array.
  11. Define azimuth and altitude angle, discuss magnetic declination, and evaluate the shade potential for a given site.
    1. Determine the azimuth and altitude angle of the sun using a sun chart.
    2. Determine the magnetic declination for a given site.
    3. Identify the tilt angle and orientation to provide maximum energy production for the site.
    4. Select array configurations to minimize the effect of shading given site parameters.
  12. Estimate energy production of a PV system based on location specifics including orientation and tilt angle.
    1. Calculate PV array energy production, give the orientation, tilt angle, and shading of the site.
    2. Calculate PV array energy production given different magnetic declination.
  13. List the pros and cons of different mounting systems (roof, pole, ground, and trackers) and determine the number of modules that can fit in a given space.
    1. Evaluate site-specific criteria to determine mounting options.
    2. List pros and cons of different mounting options.
    3. Consider layout options.
    4. Calculate number of modules that will fit in the space.
  14. Evaluate what type of inverter that is appropriate given specific criteria.
    1. Determine the primary function of an inverter.
    2. Identify the important information used to specify a grid-direct inverter.
    3. Identify the different types of inverter technologies and list advantages and disadvantages.
  15. Interpret the balance-of-system equipment specification sheets to determine the critical information needed for system design.
    1. Determine size of a grid-direct PV system based on site and funding considerations.
    2. Calculate system size using the PV Watts online tool.
  16. Design a residential grid-direct system including the array, inverter, circuit conductors, and overcurrent protection.
    1. Design and diagram the array, inverter, and overcurrent protection.
    2. Complete the diagram by connecting equipment with the proper conductors.
  17. Describe and define grounding, system grounding, and components and conductors used for grounding.
    1. List the reasons for grounding.
    2. Identify and define the functions of the following terms: Equipment grounding and conductors; ungrounded conductors; grounded conductors; grounding electrode(s); grounding electrode conductor; and electrical system grounding.
  18. Identify the following wires on schematics of a residential grid-direct system, disconnects, inverter, equipment grounding conductors, ungrounded conductors, grounded conductors, and grounding electrode(s), and the AC and DC system grounds.
    1. Identify and label all AC current equipment and conductors on the drawing or schematic.
    2. Identify and label all DC current equipment and conductors on the drawing or schematic.
  19. Identify potential safety hazards and the proper personal protection equipment used for working on grid-direct PV systems.
    1. Assess safety hazards using the National Electric Code (NEC).
    2. Apply NEC 690 to solar systems.
    3. Apply NEC to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
    4. Identify local and state codes for solar systems.
  20. Describe and list the order of installation, commissioning, and decommissioning of a grid-direct PV system.
    1. List the order for the electrically safe installation and commissioning of a solar system.
    2. Describe the conditions for electrically safe troubleshooting or decommissioning of a solar system.

COURSE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION:

1. Class participation 2. Quizzes 3. Homework 4. Classroom assignments/schematics 5. Final Exam

ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:

Any student who has a documented disability and wishes to access academic accommodations (per the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disability Act) must contact the HCC Coordinator of Disability Services, at 620-665-3554, or the Student Success Center, Parker Student Union. The student must have appropriate documentation on file before accommodations can be provided.

ACADEMIC HONESTY:

Education requires integrity and respect for HutchCC's institutional values. HutchCC students are required to maintain honesty through a "responsible acquisition, discovery, and application of knowledge" in all academic pursuits. Preserving and upholding academic honesty is the responsibility of Hut chCC students, faculty, administrators and staff.

I. Student Responsibilities

All HutchCC students are required to:

  • Submit all work in all courses without cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, dissimulation, forgery, sabotage, or academic dishonesty as defined below.
  • Provide all academic records such as transcripts and test scores that are free of forgery.
  • Refrain from participating in the academic dishonesty of any person.
  • Use only authorized notes and student aids.
  • Use technology appropriately, including refraining from submitting AI (Artificial Intelligence)-generated work without express written consent from your instructor.
  • Protect the security of passwords/login/privacy/electronic files, and maintain sole individual access for any online course information.

II. Definition of Academic Dishonesty

  • Academic dishonesty is any intentional act, or attempted act, of cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, dissimulation, forgery, or sabotage in academic work.
  • Cheating includes using unauthorized materials of any kind, whether hard copies, online, or electronic, such as unapproved study aids in any academic work, copying another student's work, using an unauthorized "cheat sheet" or device, or purchasing or acquiring an essay online or from another student.
  • Fabrica tion is the invention or falsification of any information or citation in any academic work, such as making up a source, providing an incorrect citation, or misquoting a source.
  • Plagiarism is the representation of words, ideas and other works that are not the student's own as being original to the student. A no n-inclusive list of examples includes work completed by someone else, work generated by an external entity (such as AI), omitting a citation for work used from another source, or borrowing the sequence of ideas, arrangement of material, and/or pattern of thought of work not produced by the student, even though it may be expressed in the student's own words.
  • Dissimulation is the obscuring of a student's own actions with the intention of deceiving others in any academic work, such as fabricating excuses for absences or missed assignments, or feigning attendance.
  • Forgery of academic documents is the unauthorized altering, falsification, misrepresentation, or construction of any academic document, such as changing transcripts, changing grades on papers or on exams which have been returned, forging signatures, manipulating a digital file of academic work, or plagiarizing a translation.
  • Sabotage is any obstruction or attempted obstruction of the academic work of another student, such as impersonating another student, stealing or ruining another student's academic work.
  • Aiding and abetting academic dishonesty is considered as knowingly facilitating any act defined above.
  • Academic honesty violations can also include the omission or falsification of any information on an application for any HutchCC academic program.

III. Sanctions for Academic Dishonesty

Students who violate the Academic Honesty Policy may be subject to academic or administrative consequences.

Instructor Sanctions for Violation:

Students suspected of violating the Academic Honesty Policy may be charged in writing by their instructor and any of the following may apply:

  • Assign Avoiding Plagiarism Bridge Module
  • Receiving written warning that could lead to more severe sanction if a second offense occurs
  • Revising the assignment/work in question for partial credit
  • Voiding work in question without opportunity for make-up
  • Reducing the grade for work in question
  • Lowering the final course grade
  • Failing the work in question

Institutional Sanctions for Violation:

Students charged with academic dishonesty, particularly in instances of repeated violations, may further be subjected to an investigation and any of the following may apply:

  • Instructor recommendation to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) to dismiss the student from the course in which the dishonesty occurs
  • Instructor recommendation to the VPAA to dismiss student from the course in which the dishonesty occurs with a grade of 'F." Student will not be allowed to take a 'W' for the course
  • Instructor recommendation to the VPAA that the student be suspended and/or dismissed from the program
  • Student barred from course/program for a set period of time or permanently
  • May be recommended by the instructor (after documented repeated offenses) to the VP AA that the student be placed on probation, suspended and/or dismissed from the institution.

IV. Procedure

  • Instructor will communicate in writing via the student's HutchCC email account and/or LearningZone email account to the student suspected of violating the Academic Honesty Policy.  That communication may include sanction(s). Department Chair will notify the student's academic advisor upon receipt of the Academic Honesty Violation Form.
  • For each violation, the instructor will submit a completed Academic Honesty Violation Form to the Department Chair. Department Chair will notify the student's academic advisor upon receipt of the Academic Honesty Violation form.
  • Should the instructor choose to pursue institutional sanctions, the instruct or shall notify the student in writing via the student's HutchCC email account.  Instructor shall also submit a completed Academic Honesty Violation Form and all prior completed forms regarding said student to the Department Chair and the office of the VPAA with recommendation to proceed with specific Institutional Sanctions. Department Chair will notify the student's academic advisor upon receipt of the Academic Honesty Violation Form.
  • The decision of the VPAA on Institutional Sanction is final. The VPAA will notify the student's academic advisor of any institutional sanctions.

V. Due Process Rights

Students charged with violations of academic honesty have the right of appeal and are assured of due process through the Academic Honesty Appeal process.

Academic Honesty Appeal Process

I. Due Process Rights: Students charged with violations of academic honesty have the right of appeal and are assured of due process through the Academic Honesty Appeal process.

  • If an instructor has recommended course or program dismissal, the student may continue in coursework (provi ding there are no threatening or security behavioral issues) until appeal processes are concluded. However, if an issue has been documented at a partnership location (e.g., clinical sites, secondary institutions, correctional or military facilities), then the student is no longer eligible to continue participation in internships, apprenticeships, and/or clinical-based practice. For clinical sites, this sanction is immediate.

II. Process

If the student disagrees with the charge of a violation of academic honesty, the student has the right to due process as described in the Academic Honesty Appeal process below:

  • If the matter is not resolved upon communicating with the instructor about the violation, the student shall, within five business days of the issuance of the written notice of violation, submit a completed Academic Honesty Appeal Form and supporting documentation to the appropriate department chairperson to initiate an Academic Honesty Appeal.
  • Within two business days of receiving the student's completed Academic Honesty Appeal Form, the Department Chair and VPAA will review and the VPAA will render a decision.
  • Within two business days, a response will be sent to the student's HutchCC email address. The VPAA's decision is final.

INCOMPLETE GRADE:

Instructors may give a student a grade of Incomplete (I) under the following conditions:

  1. The student must initiate the request prior to the time final course grades are submitted to Records.
  2. The request must be made because of an emergency, illness or otherwise unavoidable life-event.
  3. The instructor must agree to the request before a grade of Incomplete can be submitted.
  4. A written contract between the instructor and student, signed by both, will document the work required and date needed to complete course work.
  5. If a student does not complete the course requirements within the time frame established by the instructor, a grade of "F" will be recorded on the student's transcript at the end of the next semester.

HLC ACCREDITATION:

Hutchinson Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Higher Learning Commission is one of six regional institutional accreditors recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Last Revised: 09/25/2023