Research of the Energy Losses of Photovoltaic (PV) Modules after Hail Simulation Using a Newly-Created Testbed

Kristina Kilikevičienė, Jonas Matijošius, Artūras Kilikevičius, Mindaugas Jurevičius, Vytautas Makarskas, Jacek Caban and Andrzej Marczuk
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Kristina Kilikevičienė: Department of Mechanical and Material Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, J. Basanaviciaus St. 28, LT-03224 Vilnius, Lithuania
Jonas Matijošius: Institute of Mechanical Science, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, J. Basanaviciaus St. 28, LT-03224 Vilnius, Lithuania
Artūras Kilikevičius: Institute of Mechanical Science, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, J. Basanaviciaus St. 28, LT-03224 Vilnius, Lithuania
Mindaugas Jurevičius: Department of Mechanical and Material Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, J. Basanaviciaus St. 28, LT-03224 Vilnius, Lithuania
Vytautas Makarskas: Department of Mechanical and Material Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, J. Basanaviciaus St. 28, LT-03224 Vilnius, Lithuania
Jacek Caban: Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Transport Machines, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 28 Głęboka Street, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
Andrzej Marczuk: Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Transport Machines, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 28 Głęboka Street, 20-612 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: The impact of hail ice cubes on composite structures (such as solar cells) causes actual defects. This article presents a series of tests, in which solar cell modules were exposed to hail simulation testbed balls, allowing to assess the following: the impact energy, which causes the major defects in solar cells; the formed micro-cracks in the structure of solar cells, resulting in the loss of power generated by a solar cell; and the solar cell parameters necessary for modelling. In addition, this article presents a digital analysis of hail simulation. Information received from the digital analysis was used to optimize the structure of solar cells in order to improve its resistance properties. The aim of this study was to present a simple method for experimental hail simulation. The proposed hail impact estimation method can be successfully applied to study the influence of the mechanical–dynamic impact of photovoltaic (PV) modules of different structures on the technical characteristics of these modules (structural stability, power generation, etc.). The study showed that PV modules are subjected to an irreversible effect of the excitation force (i.e., micro-cracking) and it can reduce the generated power by 2.33% to 4.83%.

Keywords: photovoltaic (PV) module; hail simulation; resistance of photovoltaic modules; energy losses; newly-created testbed (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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