Comparison of Photovoltaic Module Performance Measurements

Author(s):  
A. Hunter Fanney ◽  
Mark W. Davis ◽  
Brian P. Dougherty ◽  
David L. King ◽  
William E. Boyson ◽  
...  

Computer simulation tools used to predict the energy production of photovoltaic systems are needed in order to make informed economic decisions. These tools require input parameters that characterize module performance under various operational and environmental conditions. Depending upon the complexity of the simulation model, the required input parameters can vary from the limited information found on labels affixed to photovoltaic modules to an extensive set of parameters. The required input parameters are normally obtained indoors using a solar simulator or flash tester, or measured outdoors under natural sunlight. This paper compares measured performance parameters for three photovoltaic modules tested outdoors at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Two of the three modules were custom fabricated using monocrystalline and silicon film cells. The third, a commercially available module, utilized triple-junction amorphous silicon cells. The resulting data allow a comparison to be made between performance parameters measured at two laboratories with differing geographical locations and apparatus. This paper describes the apparatus used to collect the experimental data, test procedures utilized, and resulting performance parameters for each of the three modules. Using a computer simulation model, the impact that differences in measured parameters have on predicted energy production is quantified. Data presented for each module include power output at standard rating conditions and the influence of incident angle, air mass, and module temperature on each module’s electrical performance. Measurements from the two laboratories are in excellent agreement. The power at standard rating conditions is within 1% for all three modules. Although the magnitude of the individual temperature coefficients varied as much as 17% between the two laboratories, the impact on predicted performance at various temperature levels was minimal, less than 2%. The influence of air mass on the performance of the three modules measured at the laboratories was in excellent agreement. The largest difference in measured results between the two laboratories was noted in the response of the modules to incident angles that exceed 75°.

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hunter Fanney ◽  
Mark W. Davis ◽  
Brian P. Dougherty ◽  
David L. King ◽  
William E. Boyson ◽  
...  

Computer simulation tools used to predict the energy production of photovoltaic systems are needed in order to make informed economic decisions. These tools require input parameters that characterize module performance under various operational and environmental conditions. Depending upon the complexity of the simulation model, the required input parameters can vary from the limited information found on labels affixed to photovoltaic modules to an extensive set of parameters. The required input parameters are normally obtained indoors using a solar simulator or flash tester, or measured outdoors under natural sunlight. This paper compares measured performance parameters for three photovoltaic modules tested outdoors at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Two of the three modules were custom fabricated using monocrystalline and silicon film cells. The third, a commercially available module, utilized triple-junction amorphous silicon cells. The resulting data allow a comparison to be made between performance parameters measured at two laboratories with differing geographical locations and apparatus. This paper describes the apparatus used to collect the experimental data, test procedures utilized, and resulting performance parameters for each of the three modules. Using a computer simulation model, the impact that differences in measured parameters have on predicted energy production is quantified. Data presented for each module includes power output at standard rating conditions and the influence of incident angle, air mass, and module temperature on each module’s electrical performance. Measurements from the two laboratories are in excellent agreement. The power at standard rating conditions is within 1% for all three modules. Although the magnitude of the individual temperature coefficients varied as much as 17% between the two laboratories, the impact on predicted performance at various temperature levels was minimal, less than 2%. The influence of air mass on the performance of the three modules measured at the laboratories was in excellent agreement. The largest difference in measured results between the two laboratories was noted in the response of the modules to incident angles that exceed 75deg.


2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hunter Fanney ◽  
Brian P. Dougherty ◽  
Mark W. Davis

To accurately predict the electrical performance of photovoltaic modules computer simulation models are essential. Without such models, potential purchasers of photovoltaic systems have insufficient information to judge the relative merits and cost effectiveness of photovoltaic systems. The purpose of this paper is to compare the predictions of a simulation model, developed by Sandia National Laboratories, to measurements from photovoltaic modules installed in a vertical wall façade in Gaithersburg, MD. The photovoltaic modules were fabricated using monocrystalline, polycrystalline, tandem-junction amorphous, and copper-indium diselenide cells. Polycrystalline modules were constructed using three different glazing materials: 6 mm low-iron glass, 0.05 mm ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, and 0.05 mm polyvinylidene fluoride. In order to only assess the simulation model’s ability to predict photovoltaic module performance, measured solar radiation data in the plane of the modules is initially used. Additional comparisons are made using horizontal radiation measurements. The ability of the model to accurately predict the temperature of the photovoltaic cells is investigated by comparing predicted energy production using measured versus predicted photovoltaic cell temperatures. The model was able to predict the measured annual energy production of the photovoltaic modules, with the exception of the tandem-junction amorphous modules, to within 6% using vertical irradiance measurements. The model overpredicted the annual energy production by approximately 14% for the tandem-junction amorphous panels. Using measured horizontal irradiance as input to the simulation model, the agreement between measured and predicted annual energy predictions varied between 1% and 8%, again with the exception of the tandem-junction amorphous silicon modules. The large difference between measured and predicted results for the tandem-junction modules is attributed to performance degradation. Power measurements of the tandem-junction amorphous modules at standard reporting conditions prior to and after exposure revealed a 12% decline. Supplying post exposure module parameters to the model resulted in energy predictions within 5% of measured values.


Author(s):  
A. Hunter Fanney ◽  
Brian P. Dougherty ◽  
Mark W. Davis

Computer simulation models to accurately predict the electrical performance of photovoltaic modules are essential. Without such models, potential purchasers of photovoltaic systems have insufficient information to judge the relative merits and cost effectiveness of photovoltaic systems. The purpose of this paper is to compare the predictions of a simulation model, developed by Sandia National Laboratories, to measurements from photovoltaic modules installed in a vertical wall fac¸ade in Gaithersburg, MD. The photovoltaic modules were fabricated using monocrystalline, polycrystalline, tandem-junction amorphous, and copper-indium diselenide cells. Polycrystalline modules were constructed using three different glazing materials — 6 mm low-iron glass, 2 mm ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), and 2 mm polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In order to only assess the simulation model’s ability to predict photovoltaic module performance, measured solar radiation data in the plane of the modules is initially used. Additional comparisons are made using horizontal radiation measurements. The ability of the model to accurately predict the temperature of the photovoltaic cells is investigated by comparing predicted energy production using measured versus predicted photovoltaic cell temperatures. The model was able to predict the measured annual energy production of the photovoltaic modules, with the exception of the tandem-junction amorphous modules, to within 6% using vertical irradiance measurements. The model overpredicted the annual energy production by approximately 14% for the tandem-junction amorphous panels. Using measured horizontal irradiance as input to the simulation model, the agreement between measured and predicted annual energy predictions varied between 1% and 8%, again with the exception of the tandem-junction amorphous silicon modules. The large difference between measured and predicted results for the tandem-junction modules is attributed to performance degradation. Power measurements of the tandem-junction amorphous modules at standard reporting conditions prior to and after exposure revealed a 12% decline. Supplying post-exposure module parameters to the model resulting in energy predictions within 5% of measured values.


2012 ◽  
Vol 468-471 ◽  
pp. 1380-1383
Author(s):  
Hui Wang ◽  
Yu Xin Wang

Rigidity of oil film is an important hydrostatic support performance of the slipper pair. This paper establishes the mathematics model of hydrostatic support structure on the basis of considering secondary force. And establish the simulation model of rigidity of oil film by using the toolbox of Simulink. Study the dynamic characteristics of rigidity of oil film under the influence of secondary force through computer simulation. And reach a conclusion that the impact of secondary force on rigidity of oil film has a relationship with friction coefficient and work pressure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Monika Bučková ◽  
Miroslav Fusko ◽  
Gabriela Gabajová ◽  
Martin Gašo ◽  
Branislav Mičieta ◽  
...  

Internal and external risk management has become an important issue in today's global business environment, which is fraught with health, natural, political, economic and technical threats. This article deals with the design of a methodology for problem-solving and risk management in connection with computer simulation. The risk management methodology proposed by us consists of individual steps, which are summarized into three stages - risk assessment, risk analysis and risk management. The proposed computer simulation methodology consists of several steps, for example creating a parametric simulation model, designing experiments, analysis of the simulation model results or the evaluation of the simulation results. These steps are described in the article. After completing the previous steps, we describe the points of an action plan and what it must contain to avoid consequences and the impact of risks at the lowest possible level. An example of the use of computer simulation is the risk situation associated with the fluctuation of employees. In the end, the proposed methodology is supported by the results of our research and its further direction.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e045577
Author(s):  
Katherine Robertson ◽  
Ian Hardingham ◽  
Rhiannon D'Arcy ◽  
Aparna Reddy ◽  
Joe Clacey

ObjectivesDelay in the induction of labour (IOL) process is associated with poor patient experience and adverse perinatal outcome. Our objective was to identify factors associated with delay in the IOL process and develop interventions to reduce delay.Design and settingsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of maternity unit workload in a large UK district general hospital. Electronic hospital records were used to quantify delay in the IOL process and linear regression analysis was performed to assess significant associations between delay and potential causative factors. A novel computer maternity unit simulation model, MUMSIM (Maternity Unit Management SIMulation), was developed using real-world data and interventions were tested to identify those associated with a reduction in delay.ParticipantsAll women giving birth at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire National Health Service (NHS) Trust in 2018 (n=4932).Primary outcome measureDelay in the IOL process of more than 12 hours.ResultsThe retrospective analysis of real-world maternity unit workload showed 30% of women had IOL and of these, 33% were delayed >12 hours with 20% delayed >24 hours, 10% delayed >48 hours and 1.3% delayed >72 hours. Delay was significantly associated with the total number of labouring women (p=0.008) and the number of booked IOL (p=0.009) but not emergency IOL, spontaneously labouring women or staffing shortfall. The MUMSIM computer simulation predicted that changing from slow release 24-hour prostaglandin to 6-hour prostaglandin for primiparous women would reduce delay by 4% (p<0.0001) and that additional staffing interventions could significantly reduce delay up to 17.9% (p<0.0001).ConclusionsPlanned obstetric workload of booked IOL is associated with delay rather than the unpredictable workload of women in spontaneous labour or emergency IOL. We present a novel maternity unit computer simulation model, MUMSIM, which allows prediction of the impact of interventions to reduce delay.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Jud ◽  
Lazaros Vlachopoulos ◽  
Thomas V. Häller ◽  
Sandro F. Fucentese ◽  
Stefan Rahm ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 ◽  
pp. 01012
Author(s):  
Maciej Kuboń ◽  
Ireneusz Kaczmar ◽  
Pavol Findura

The paper focuses on computer modeling of the reliability of technical systems using FlexSim simulation software. It presents the theoretical foundations of machine reliability and principles of describing this phenomenon. The discussion demonstrates how to estimate the main parameters of reliability analysis - MTBF and MTTR. The end result was designing a simulation model and assessing the impact of machine failure on the productivity and performance of a technical system.


2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behzat B. Kentel ◽  
Mark A. King ◽  
Sean R. Mitchell

A torque-driven, subject-specific 3-D computer simulation model of the impact phase of one-handed tennis backhand strokes was evaluated by comparing performance and simulation results. Backhand strokes of an elite subject were recorded on an artificial tennis court. Over the 50-ms period after impact, good agreement was found with an overall RMS difference of 3.3° between matching simulation and performance in terms of joint and racket angles. Consistent with previous experimental research, the evaluation process showed that grip tightness and ball impact location are important factors that affect postimpact racket and arm kinematics. Associated with these factors, the model can be used for a better understanding of the eccentric contraction of the wrist extensors during one-handed backhand ground strokes, a hypothesized mechanism of tennis elbow.


Author(s):  
Ashwni Ashwni ◽  
◽  
Sachin Gupta ◽  
Ramakant Rana ◽  
◽  
...  

In this experimental work, the investigation about the impact of the geometrical dispositions of the triangular obstacles on the performance parameters such as pressure drop and thermal efficiency. A number of input parameters affects the performance of the system. These input parameters are the heat flux, mass flow rate ( = 0.01 to 0.02 kg/s), obstacles’ height, h from 22 mm to 37.5 mm, their cross-stream wise pitch (Ly = 56 to 206 mm), their angle of inclination with the vertical plane (Θ = 300 - 900), and stream wise pitch (Lx =30 to 70 mm). Moreover, an optimum set of input parameters is determined using the statistical modeling of the operating conditions by the Taguchi technique.


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