Design study on the parameters influencing the performance of floating solar PV

Abstract

Floating solar PV, or FPV, refers to the installation of solar PV panels on floating platforms over water bodies for power generation. This technology offers higher efficiency and superior power generation by minimizing the solar PV cell temperature. The parameters affecting the performance of floating solar PV and its design differ from those of the conventional solar PV system. To ensure the successful implementation of this technology, a thorough understanding of its design configuration and proper installation in different geographical locations is crucial. The current study aims to evaluate the impact of wind, ambient temperature, water temperature, height and tilt angle in an FPV. The effect of these parameters on the temperature drop in an FPV cell due to the combination of wind and water is compared with a free-standing photovoltaic module allied with the NOCT condition (NOCT PV), where the source of cooling is only wind. Concerning it, CFD simulation was carried out for a 2D solar PV module using a finite volume approach. Multiple simulations were performed by changing different combinations of parameters to optimize the design of FPV. It is found that a minimum of 5 °C temperature difference between wind and water is required for heat transfer enhancement in FPV. The lower height and tilt angle favour FPV in reducing the temperature of solar PV cells. At higher heights and tilt angles, the heat transfer by the wind in the NOCT PV is better than that in the FPV. For a tilt angle less than 45°, irrespective of height, FPV performs well. For a tilt angle greater than 55°, the solar PV cell temperature of NOCT PV is lower than that of FPV. This variation is observed to be the impact of high wind velocity in NOCT PV compared to FPV. Further, the simulation result revealed that FPV provides maximum cooling to the PV cell at 0° tilt with a height of 1500 mm.