Electrical Model Analysis for Bifacial PV Modules Using Real Performance Data in Laboratory

Valentina González Becerra, Patricio Valdivia-Lefort (), Rodrigo Barraza and Jesús García García
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Valentina González Becerra: Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria, Santiago 8940000, Chile
Patricio Valdivia-Lefort: Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 8370003, Chile
Rodrigo Barraza: Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago 7941169, Chile
Jesús García García: Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5110566, Chile

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-21

Abstract: The new PV technologies, such as bifacial modules, bring the challenge of analyzing the response of numerical models and their fit to actual measurements. Thus, this study explores various models available in the literature for simulating the IV curve behavior of bifacial photovoltaic modules. The analysis contains traditional models, such as single and double-diode models, and empirical or analytical methodologies. Therefore, this paper proposes and implements a model performance assessment framework. This framework aims to establish a common basis for comparison and verify the applicability of each model by contrasting it with experimental data under controlled conditions of irradiance and temperature. The study utilizes bifacial modules of PERC+, HJT, and n-PERT technologies, tracing IV curves using a high-precision A+A+A+ solar simulator and conducting two sets of laboratory illumination measurements: single-sided and double-sided. In the first case, each face of the module is illuminated separately, while in the latter, the incident frontal illuminating light is reflected on a reflective surface. Experimental data obtained from these measurements are used to evaluate three different approximations for bifacial IV curve models in the case of double-sided illumination. The employed model for single-sided illumination is a single-diode model. The evaluation of various models revealed that shadowing from frames and junction boxes contributes to an increase in the error of modeled IV curves. However, among the three evaluated bifacial electrical models, one exhibited superior performance, with current errors approaching approximately 20 % . To mitigate this discrepancy, a proposed methodology highlighted the significance of accurately estimating I o , suggesting its potential to reduce errors. This research provides a foundation for comparing electrical models to identify their strengths and limitations, paving the way for the development of more accurate modeling approaches tailored to bifacial modules. The insights gained from this study are crucial for enhancing the precision of IV curve predictions under various illumination conditions, which is essential for optimizing bifacial module performance in real-world applications.

Keywords: PV models; bifacial module; experimental data (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: 2024
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