In the 21st century, the deployment of ground-based Solar Photovoltaic
(PV) Modules has seen exponential growth, driven by increasing demands for
green, clean, and renewable energy sources. However, their usage is constrained
by certain limitations. Notably, the efficiency of solar PV modules on the
ground peaks at a maximum of 25%, and there are concerns regarding their
long-term reliability, with an expected lifespan of approximately 25 years
without failures. This study focuses on analyzing the thermal efficiency of PV
Modules. We have investigated the temperature profile of PV Modules under
varying environmental conditions, such as air velocity and ambient temperature,
utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This analysis is crucial as the
efficiency of PV Modules is significantly impacted by changes in the
temperature differential relative to the environment. Furthermore, the study
highlights the effect of airflow over solar panels on their temperature. It is
found that a decrease in the temperature of the PV Module increases Open
Circuit Voltage, underlining the importance of thermal management in optimizing
solar panel performance.
Faiman, D. (2008) Assessing the Outdoor Operating Temperature of Photovoltaic Modules. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, 16, 307-315. https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.813
[8]
Skoplaki, E. and Palyvos, J.A. (2009) On the Temperature Dependence of Photovoltaic Module Electrical Performance: A Review of Efficiency/Power Correlations. Solar Energy, 83, 614-624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2008.10.008
[9]
Mattei, M., Notton, G., Cristofari, C., Muselli, M. and Poggi, P. (2006) Calculation of the Polycrystalline PV Module Temperature Using a Simple Method of Energy Balance. Renewable Energy, 31, 553-567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2005.03.010
[10]
Lee, Y. and Tay, A.A.O. (2012) Finite Element Thermal Analysis of a Solar Photovoltaic Module. Energy Procedia, 15, 413-420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2012.02.050
[11]
Usama Siddiqui, M., Arif, A.F.M., Kelley, L. and Dubowsky, S. (2012) Three-Dimensional Thermal Modeling of a Photovoltaic Module under Varying Conditions. Solar Energy, 86, 2620-2631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.05.034
[12]
Zhou, J., Yi, Q., Wang, Y. and Ye, Z. (2015) Temperature Distribution of Photovoltaic Module Based on Finite Element Simulation. Solar Energy, 111, 97-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.10.040
[13]
Marwaha, S., Pratik, P. and Ghosh, K. (2018) Thermal Model of Silicon Photovoltaic Module with Incorporation of CFD Analysis. Silicon, 14, 4493-4499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01184-3
