A Novel Method for Thermal Modelling of Photovoltaic Modules/Cells under Varying Environmental Conditions

Ali Kareem Abdulrazzaq, Balázs Plesz and György Bognár
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Ali Kareem Abdulrazzaq: Department of Electron Devices, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungarian Scientists Tour 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
Balázs Plesz: Department of Electron Devices, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungarian Scientists Tour 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
György Bognár: Department of Electron Devices, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungarian Scientists Tour 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-23

Abstract: Temperature has a significant effect on the photovoltaic module output power and mechanical properties. Measuring the temperature for such a stacked layers structure is impractical to be carried out, especially when we talk about a high number of modules in power plants. This paper introduces a novel thermal model to estimate the temperature of the embedded electronic junction in modules/cells as well as their front and back surface temperatures. The novelty of this paper can be realized through different aspects. First, the model includes a novel coefficient, which we define as the forced convection adjustment coefficient to imitate the module tilt angle effect on the forced convection heat transfer mechanism. Second, the new combination of effective sub-models found in literature producing a unique and reliable method for estimating the temperature of the PV modules/cells by incorporating the new coefficient. In addition, the paper presents a comprehensive review of the existing PV thermal sub-models and the determination expressions of the related parameters, which all have been tested to find the best combination. The heat balance equation has been employed to construct the thermal model. The validation phase shows that the estimation of the module temperature has significantly improved by introducing the novel forced convection adjustment coefficient. Measurements of polycrystalline and amorphous modules have been used to verify the proposed model. Multiple error indication parameters have been used to validate the model and verify it by comparing the obtained results to those reported in recent and most accurate literature.

Keywords: module temperature; solar energy; thermal modelling; heat transfer mechanisms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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