diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/faq.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/faq.rst index 801588c691..eacbaddb3f 100644 --- a/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/faq.rst +++ b/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/faq.rst @@ -138,3 +138,37 @@ so you can check the tables there for more up-to-date tables. For modules, if even the SAM files don't include the module you're looking for either, you can calculate CEC module model parameters from datasheet information using :py:func:`pvlib.ivtools.sdm.fit_cec_sam`. + + +Which should I use, the CEC or the Sandia PV Module database? +------------------------------------------------------------- + +The CEC PV module database contains parameters for significantly more +modules, and is more up to date, than the Sandia PV module database. +Therefore, the CEC PV module database is probably the more useful option +in most cases. However, finding parameters for the specific module +being used is usually more important than which database they came from. + +Besides which modules each database includes, another consideration is the +different modeling capabilities each parameter set provides. The CEC model +produces a continuous IV curve while the Sandia model calculates only a few +specific points of interest on the curve. For typical simulations where +only the maximum power point is of interest, either model will suffice. + + +How do I model a system with multiple inverters? +------------------------------------------------ + +Currently, pvlib's :ref:`modelchaindoc` and :ref:`pvsystemdoc` only support +simulating one inverter at a time. To calculate total power for multiple inverters, +there are two options: + +If the modules, mounting, stringing, and inverters are all identical for each +inverter, then you may simply simulate one inverter and multiply the +``ModelChainResult.ac`` by the number of inverters to get the total system output. + +If the inverters or their arrays are not all identical, +define one ``PVSystem`` and ``ModelChain`` per inverter and +run the simulation for each of them individually. From there you +can add up the inverter-level outputs to get the total system output. + diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.9.5.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.9.5.rst index 6c50f32642..c11d72f0de 100644 --- a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.9.5.rst +++ b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.9.5.rst @@ -18,18 +18,14 @@ Enhancements ~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Added the optional `string_factor` parameter to :py:func:`pvlib.snow.loss_townsend` (:issue:`1636`, :pull:`1653`) +* Added optional ``n_ar`` parameter to :py:func:`pvlib.iam.physical` to + support an anti-reflective coating. (:issue:`1501`, :pull:`1616`) Bug fixes ~~~~~~~~~ * Added a limit to :py:func:`pvlib.snow.loss_townsend` to guard against incorrect loss results for systems that are near the ground (:issue:`1636`, :pull:`1653`) - -* Added optional ``n_ar`` parameter to :py:func:`pvlib.iam.physical` to - support an anti-reflective coating. (:issue:`1501`, :pull:`1616`) - -Bug fixes -~~~~~~~~~ * Fixed incorrect mapping of requested parameters names when using the ``get_psm3`` function. Also fixed the random reordering of the dataframe columns. (:issue:`1629`, :issue:`1647`, :pull:`1648`) @@ -67,5 +63,4 @@ Contributors * Karel De Brabandere (:ghuser:`kdebrab`) * Mark Mikofski (:ghuser:`mikofski`) * Anton Driesse (:ghuser:`adriesse`) -* Adam R. Jensen (:ghuser:`AdamRJensen`) * Michael Deceglie (:ghuser:`mdeceglie`)