1.9.3.Description of the polysun platform

POLYSUN of Vela Solaris (Switzerland) is extensive application for design solar, geothermal, photovoltaic and as well as their hybrid systems, designed to work on Windows and Mac platforms, supporting 12 languages (German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Czech, Polish, Greek, Romanian and Swedish). There are two levels of application: Educational, Professional and Designer. Educational version has the same possibilities like a Professional one but is for not commercial purpose. These both kinds of applications have some limitations in comparison to the Designer level. For example, in Designer, templates of the system diagrams can be modified and added to the library. New components can be added to the library also.

More detailed description of the differences between Professional and Designer level is on the website: http://www.velasolaris.com/english/product/features.html.

1.9.3.1.Polysun modules

• module to simulate the solar collector systems - simulation provides a comprehensive analysis of solar systems. The program provides access to a huge and comprehensive access to templates, ready-made diagrams for domestic hot water, swimming pool water heating and house heating. With regularly updated database, includes the best available products on the market, allowing for high-quality projects. Polysun offers different kinds of reports, depending on the needs of the user, containing data on the energy balance and the repayment time installation.

• module for the simulation of photovoltaic systems - it contains a comprehensive database of companies engaged in photovoltaic modules and inverters. Using this module, the user can modify many parameters of photovoltaic system, such as the angle of inclination, azimuth, number of modules, inverter type and layout, cable losses etc. Program assists in the selection of the proper inverter, performs validation of the system, showing exceeded limits.

• module to simulate heat pump systems - provides a comprehensive selection of templates for domestic heating system. The program allows you to create simulations for the heat pump system for air-water and brine-to-water, taking into account the use of ground-source and ground water loops. Polysun provides a detailed description of the installation of conventional heat generators, pumps and heat exchangers, calculating the necessary parameters to be used by the experts.

• simulation module for cooling systems - can be used to simulate the solar cooling and cooling using a refrigerating compressor. As in previous modules, extensive database allows you to calculate the most optimal system for your needs.

1.9.3.2.User Interface

The view of the main window of Polysun application is presented below. User Interface consists of 8 components listed and described in the table below.

Fig. 1.9.2 The main window components

Tab. 1.9.1 The Polysun main window components

Position	Designation	Explanation
1	Menu bar	The menu bar gives access to Polysun’s main functions
2	Icon bar	The toolbar gives quick access to Polysun’s main functions
3	Project Tree	The project tree area shows the project components in the form of tree
4	Templates	The templates windows shows a user-ready templates of systems
5	Project Tools	Project Tools contains a set of tools for creating/modifying a system
6	Working Window	Working Window shows active windows selected on the Project Tree
7	Status windows	Shows the application messages
8	Status Line	Shows the project file path