A Coupled Electrical and Thermal Model for Photovoltaic Modules

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Tina

A coupled electrical and thermal model for calculating the temperature of a photovoltaic (PV) module has been developed and implemented in a simulation tool. The input data for this model include both environmental parameters (ambient temperature, wind speed, wind direction, total irradiance, and relative humidity) and electrical variables (voltage and current). In particular, this paper discusses the impact of the electrical operating point on the PV module temperature. This information can be very useful, especially in optimizing hybrid PV/thermal system operation. Numerical and experimental results are presented.

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahere Zarei ◽  
Morteza Abdolzadeh

The experimental method is extensively used to determine the temperature of a photovoltaic (PV) module at different hours of a day. In this method, the module temperature is measured using a temperature sensor mounted on the back of PV module. However, the experimental measurements have high cost and are not applicable everywhere. In this study, an optical–thermal model was used to predict all the PV module layer temperatures in two cases: tilted toward the south and fixed on a two-axis sun tracker. The impact of accurate consideration of the wind velocity and the ambient temperature on the PV module temperature was the main strength of the present simulation. This was carried out testing several correlations for prediction of convection heat transfer coefficient in the modeling process. The front and back layer temperatures as well as the silicon (Si) layer temperature of PV module were separately determined. To verify the results of the simulation, the temperatures of four PV modules measured in four different locations of the world, namely, China, Germany, Australia, and Brazil, were used. The results showed that the present study predicts the temperature of PV module more accurately compared to the previous studies. It was also shown that the average temperature errors between the measured and the predicted temperatures relative to the maximum module temperature were 2.19%, 2.3%, and 2.85%, for Australia, Brazil, and Germany, respectively.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Marc-Alain Mutombo ◽  
Freddie Inambao ◽  
Glen Bright

The conversion of solar irradiance into electricity by a photovoltaic module (PV) is 6– 7% of the incoming energy from the sun depending on the type of technology and the environmental parameters. More than 80% of incoming energy from the sun is reflected or absorbed by the solar module. The fraction of energy absorbed increases with solar cell temperature and the cells’ efficiency drops as a consequence. The efficiency of a PV module is improved by combining a PV module and a thermal collector in one unit, resulting in a hybrid photovoltaic and thermal collector (PV/T). The purpose of this paper is to present the behavior a thermosyphon hybrid PV/T when exposed to variations of environmental parameters and to demonstrate the advantage of cooling photovoltaic modules with water using a rectangular channel profile for the thermal collector. A single glazed flat-box absorber PV/T module was designed, its behavior for different environmental parameters tested, the numerical model developed, and the simulation for particular days for Durban weather run. The simulation result showed that the overall efficiency of the PV/T module was 38.7% against 14.6% for a standard PV module while the water temperature in the storage tank reached 37.1 °C. This is a great encouragement to the marketing of the PV/T technology in South Africa particularly during summer, and specifically in areas where the average annual solar irradiance is more than 4.70 kWh/m²/day.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thamer Alquthami ◽  
Karim Menoufi

This article evaluates the impact of dust accumulation on the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules in two different locations inside Egypt, Cairo and Beni-Suef. Two identical PV modules were used for that purpose, where each module was exposed to the outdoor environment in order to collect dust naturally for a period of three weeks, each in its corresponding location. The approximate dust density on each of the two PV modules was estimated. Moreover, the electrical performance was evaluated and compared under the same indoor testing conditions. The results show a better electrical performance and less dust density for the PV module located in Cairo compared to that located in Beni-Suef. The results further provide an indication for the impact of soling in different locations within the same country through a clear and simple procedure. In addition, it paves the way for establishing a Photovoltaic Soiling Index (PVSI) in terms of a Photovoltaic Dust Coefficient, as well as a Photovoltaic Dust Interactive Map. The product of such concepts could be used by the Photovoltaic systems designers everywhere in order to estimate the impact of dust on the future performance of PV modules in small and large installations in different regions around the globe, and during different times of the year as well.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarek Selmi ◽  
Hedi Dhouibi ◽  
Jalel Ghabi

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are modeled using numerical methods to illustrate the performance of the voltage and the current generated by the PV cell/Module. Those two quantities, voltage and current, depend on some manufacturing and environmental parameters such as the temperature and the incident irradiance. Accordingly, this paper shows the impact of such parameters on the electric behavior of PV cells/Modules. An electronic circuit, made up of a photocurrent source, a junction diode, a series and a shunt resistances represent the PV cell considered within this paper. Within this paper, a Matlab/Simulink model of a PV cell/module is presented. To validate the Matlab/Simulink model of the PV cell/module, real data of the AEGAS-P605-250 PV module is implemented in PVsyst. 6.6.3 tool to highlight the effect of manufacturing and climate parameters on the electric behavior of the module.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Radwan H. Abdel Hamid ◽  
Youssef Elidrissi ◽  
Adel Elsamahy ◽  
Mohammed Regragui ◽  
Karim Menoufi

Abstract This article presents an evaluation of the performance of PV modules with the variation of some technical and environmental parameters: The PV module tilt angle, and the impact of soiling on the power output of PV module, and the transmittance of the PV glass surfaces. The experiments were achieved in Helwan City (Egypt) at the premises of the Faculty of Engineering of Helwan University. For the soiling part, it comprises two experiments: Transmittance of PV glass surfaces, and the power output of PV modules. For the transmittance experiment, it has been achieved using a simplified method, where three PV glass surfaces were placed at three different tilt angles (0°, 15°, and 30°) and left exposed to the outdoor environment without cleaning for a period of 25 days during the summer season. For the experiment concerning the impact of soiling on the power output, a set of PV modules connected in series have been exposed for a period of 75 days to the outdoor environment without cleaning. Finally, for the PV module tilt angle experiment, another set of PV modules have been used for that purpose, where four different tilt angles were experimented: 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°. The present research recommends that more studies are needed in the same context, taking into consideration correlating the technical and environmental parameters in one single experiment and during different times of the year. This would be helpful in having overarching perspective regarding the electrical performance of PV modules under different circumstances of tilt angles and soiling patterns within the area of Helwan (Egypt).


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1503
Author(s):  
Minsu Kim ◽  
Hongmyeong Kim ◽  
Jae Hak Jung

Various equations are being developed and applied to predict photovoltaic (PV) module generation. Currently, quite diverse methods for predicting module generation are available, with most equations showing accuracy with ≤5% error. However, the accuracy can be determined only when the module temperature and the value of irradiation that reaches the module surface are precisely known. The prediction accuracy of outdoor generation is actually extremely low, as the method for predicting outdoor module temperature has extremely low accuracy. The change in module temperature cannot be predicted accurately because of the real-time change of irradiation and air temperature outdoors. Calculations using conventional equations from other studies show a mean error of temperature difference of 4.23 °C. In this study, an equation was developed and verified that can predict the precise module temperature up to 1.64 °C, based on the experimental data obtained after installing an actual outdoor module.


Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 1648
Author(s):  
Marinko Barukčić ◽  
Toni Varga ◽  
Vedrana Jerković Jerković Štil ◽  
Tin Benšić

The paper researches the impact of the input data resolution on the solution of optimal allocation and power management of controllable and non-controllable renewable energy sources distributed generation in the distribution power system. Computational intelligence techniques and co-simulation approach are used, aiming at more realistic system modeling and solving the complex optimization problem. The optimization problem considers the optimal allocation of all distributed generations and the optimal power control of controllable distributed generations. The co-simulation setup employs a tool for power system analysis and a metaheuristic optimizer to solve the optimization problem. Three different resolutions of input data (generation and load profiles) are used: hourly, daily, and monthly averages over one year. An artificial neural network is used to estimate the optimal output of controllable distributed generations and thus significantly decrease the dimensionality of the optimization problem. The proposed procedure is applied on a 13 node test feeder proposed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The obtained results show a huge impact of the input data resolution on the optimal allocation of distributed generations. Applying the proposed approach, the energy losses are decreased by over 50–70% by the optimal allocation and control of distributed generations depending on the tested network.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Kwan Lim ◽  
Oh Joo Kweon ◽  
Hye Ryoun Kim ◽  
Tae-Hyoung Kim ◽  
Mi-Kyung Lee

AbstractCorona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic and is a major public health concern worldwide. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of environmental factors, such as climate and air pollutants, in the transmission of COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea. We collected epidemiological and environmental data from two regions of the Republic of Korea, namely Seoul metropolitan region (SMR) and Daegu-Gyeongbuk region (DGR) from February 2020 to July 2020. The data was then analyzed to identify correlations between each environmental factor with confirmed daily COVID-19 cases. Among the various environmental parameters, the duration of sunshine and ozone level were found to positively correlate with COVID-19 cases in both regions. However, the association of temperature variables with COVID-19 transmission revealed contradictory results when comparing the data from SMR and DGR. Moreover, statistical bias may have arisen due to an extensive epidemiological investigation and altered socio-behaviors that occurred in response to a COVID-19 outbreak. Nevertheless, our results suggest that various environmental factors may play a role in COVID-19 transmission.


Author(s):  
Heangwoo Lee ◽  
Xiaolong Zhao ◽  
Janghoo Seo

Recent studies on light shelves found that building energy efficiency could be maximized by applying photovoltaic (PV) modules to light shelf reflectors. Although PV modules generate a substantial amount of heat and change the consumption of indoor heating and cooling energy, performance evaluations carried out thus far have not considered these factors. This study validated the effectiveness of PV module light shelves and determined optimal specifications while considering heating and cooling energy savings. A full-scale testbed was built to evaluate performance according to light shelf variables. The uniformity ratio was found to improve according to the light shelf angle value and decreased as the PV module installation area increased. It was determined that PV modules should be considered in the design of light shelves as their daylighting and concentration efficiency change according to their angles. PV modules installed on light shelves were also found to change the indoor cooling and heating environment; the degree of such change increased as the area of the PV module increased. Lastly, light shelf specifications for reducing building energy, including heating and cooling energy, were not found to apply to PV modules since PV modules on light shelf reflectors increase building energy consumption.


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