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Once the roof is prepared (see this article), the layout can be generated. This article covers the main steps of roof layout creation with PVcase:
Module settings (dimensions and power)
Layout settings (module orientation, tilt angle, generation starting point)
Spacing settings (row and column spacing, corridors, height)
Module placement
Module Settings
- How to set up settings for your Layout [Video]
As a first step, you can define the module dimensions and power in Module Settings. Additional presets can be created by clicking on the plus or duplicate sign, should you want to test different module types for your site.
Layout settings
As a next step, in Layout settings, the module type and orientation, tilt angle, and generation starting point can be defined.
Under Existing modules, the modules to be used in this layout or specific PVarea can be selected from the library that was created in the previous step:
Next, choose the desired layout type (Flat south or flat east-west), module orientation (portrait or landscape), and tilt angle:
PVcase also gives you the option to align the modules by the parapet (rooftop edge) or to manually define an azimuth:
The last steps in this tab is to define whether the layout generation should start from right or left, top or bottom:
Spacing Settings
In Spacing settings, pitch or inner spacing, column spacing, corridors, and height above the roof can be defined.
Pitch and inner spacing can be defined manually or taking into account the shade limit calculated by PVcase. The following options are available:
Angle: You can either define pitch or inner spacing manually or set a sun position angle; the other two are related and will update automatically. If you opt for a specific Sun position angle, the software will calculate the minimum pitch and inner spacing required so that the modules don't cast shade on each other when the sun stands at the set angle.
Time: The software will calculate the minimum pitch and inner spacing required to avoid modules casting shade on each other at the defined date, time, and location.
Once the pitch and inner spacing are set, column spacing, corridor pattern, and height above the roof can be customized.
Layout Generation/Module Placement
Once all the parameters are defined, the modules can be placed. To do so, click on Place modules, then select one or several PV areas and click enter or space on the keyboard.
If you have chosen to place modules by the Azimuth, modules will be placed after clicking Enter or Space.
If Align modules by parapet is selected, you will be prompted via tooltip to select the parapet to align the modules. Then click Enter for the modules to be placed.
If the same layout and spacing settings apply to various PV areas, instead of populating each PV area separately, modules can also be placed on several PV areas simultaneously by selecting several PV areas in the same go as shown below:
