v1.5.0

Version 1.5.0

All the following changes were made to accommodate the bifacial model. The bifacial model implemented is adapted from the NREL model at https://github.com/NREL/bifacialvf

Simulation Engine

New additions:

1. GroundShading class added to calculate a profile of global (beam and diffuse) irradiance for ground between rows
2. BackTilter class added to calculate components of back side irradiance (diffuse, rear front-panel-reflected, ground-reflected, and beam) using view factors. Implemented for fixed tilt and single axis tracking systems
3. Transpose global back side irradiance to front, weighted by the bifaciality factor
4. Modify Shading class to calculate back side shading limit angle, profile angle, and shading fraction
5. Modify Tracker class to recalculate ground clearance at each time step for single axis trackers

Bug fixes:

1. Small calculation error in energy loss due to voltage too low

Interface

New additions:

1. Bifacial sheet for user to detail bifacial parameters: ground clearance, structural blocking factor, transmission factor, bifaciality factor, and inter-row albedo
2. Output sheet to include several bifacial outputs
3. Loss Diagram to include bifacial gains
4. Exported PDF report to include printing of bifacial model
5. ToolsModule module to hold development tools, including the new ShowRangeNames and HideRangeNames macros
6. Significant changes in InputFileSht to handle TMY3 and EPW files better

Bug fixes:

1. Resolved problems with the saving of monthly information for albedo, bifacial albedo, and soiling in SiteSht, SaveModule, LoadModule
2. Addressed issues with locking and shading of cells for tracking configurations in OrientationAndShadingSht

v1.4.0

Version 1.4.0

Simulation Engine

New additions:

1. Spectral Effects class added to calculate a very crude spectral correction value, which is applied to the effective irradiance reaching the PV cell

Interface

New additions:

1. Spectral sheet to allow user to define a spectral correction curve, based on clearness index
2. Loss Diagram and Output sheets to include spectral gains/losses

Bug fixes:

1. Issue where monthly albedo values were not saved correctly to .csyx
2. Issue with PDF report generation

v1.3.1

Version 1.3.1

Simulation Engine

Bug fixes:

1. Issues with loss diagram
2. Issues with EPW and TMY3 readers
3. Issue with DOMDocument reader

v1.3.0

Version 1.3.0

Simulation Engine

New additions:

1. Loss Diagram class added to read and output system losses
2. GridConnectedSystems class restructured and changes made to GetInverterStatus function
3. MetReader given EPW file reading capabilities
4. PVArray class given additional calculations for previously uncalculated losses
5. Slight modification to some irradiance and power calculations

Interface

New additions:

1. Loss Diagram sheet added to CASSYS interface for simulation outputs
2. EPW weather compatibility added
3. PDF summary export button added to the summary sheet

Bug fixes:

1. Issue with uploading some OND files fixed

v1.2.1

Version 1.2.1

Simulation Engine

Bug fixes:

1. Error Log: Now refreshes before each simulation
2. Inverter Database: Fixed issue with user added .OND files not being visible in the selector on the Systems Sheet

v1.2.0

Version 1.2.0

Simulation Engine

New additions:

1. AC wiring loss calculations are now completed in their own class as opposed to being carried out in the Inverter class.
2. Orientations and shading: User can now specify panel tilt for two seasons and CASSYS will adjust calculations and resulting outputs.
3. Climate file: When running simulation the engine will be able to detect and skip over a user specified number of unusable rows. If there is more than the specified number of unusable rows, the program will stop running.
4. Implemented capability to run simulations iteratively, but is not active as of this release.

Interface

New additions:

1. Transformer sheet now allows for user input of either CASSYS values or PVsyst equivalent values.
2. AC wiring loss can now be modelled at either Standard Test Conditions or at nominal inverter power rating. This may be specified by the user in the system sheet. Previously, simulations were completed assuming STC.
3. Orientation and shading sheet now has an additional user selection option: Fixed Tilt with Seasonal Adjustment. This allows the user to specify panel tilt angles for summer and winter seasons. Summer and winter start dates are indicated by user input.
4. Climate file sheet now allows a user to specify a number of unreadable rows within the selected climate file.
5. It is now possible to import .PAN and .OND files from all versions of PVsyst.

v1.1.0

Version 1.1.0

Simulation Engine

New additions:

1. ASTM E2848 Mode: ASTM E2848 mode is now available as a simulation mode. Users can now simulate system performance using coefficients determined as defined by the ASTM E2848 standard. The reference guide has been updated to document and explain the calculation of system power.
2. Simulation mode is now modularized: Simulation configuration and calculations are handled by individual classes (e.g. GridConnected.cs) to simplify how the simulation proceeds and the correct outputs are calculated. This improves and enforces a structure to further development of new simulation modes.

Interface

New additions:

1. ASTM E2848 Mode: ASTM E2848 mode now available from Intro page. A new sheet has been added to accept user input and write them into the CASSYS project file (.csyx).

Bug fixes:

1. Hide temperature and wind speed as available outputs in Radiation mode (as they are not available).

Resolving Version issue with Tilter class

Minor change to include 1.0.0 in config for one class.