Abstract
PV temperature significantly affects the module’s power output and final system yield, and its accurate prediction can serve the forecasting of PV power output, smart grid operations, online PV diagnostics and dynamic predictive management of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. This paper presents a dynamic PV temperature prediction model based on transient Energy Balance Equations, incorporating theoretical expressions for all heat transfer processes, natural convection, forced convection, conduction and radiation exchanges between both module sides and the environment. The algorithmic approach predicts PV temperature at the centre of the cell, the back and the front glass cover with fast convergence and serves the PV power output prediction. The simulation model is robust, predicting PV temperature with high accuracy at any environmental conditions, PV inclination, orientation, wind speed and direction, and mounting configurations, free-standing and BIPV. These, alongside its theoretical basis, ensure the model’s wide applicability and clear advantage over existing PV temperature prediction models. The model is validated for a wide range of environmental conditions, PV geometries and mounting configurations with experimental data from a sun-tracking, a fixed angle PV and a BIPV system. The deviation between predicted and measured power output for the fixed-angle and the sun-tracking PV systems was estimated at −1.4% and 1.9%, respectively. The median of the temperature difference between predicted and measured values was as low as 0.5 °C for the sun-tracking system, and for all cases, the predicted temperature profiles were closely matching the measured profiles. The PV temperature and power output predicted by this model are compared to the results produced by other well-known PV temperature models, illustrating its high predictive capacity, accuracy and robustness.
Highlights
The modelling of photovoltaic (PV) temperature has received increased attention in recent years in an effort to accurately predict the power output and final yield of PV systems
This model applies to in-land systems, and limitations may be identified with regards to PV operating in fresh water or sea environments, Floating PV (FPV) systems, or water content in the air, as well as cases of Concentrating PV (CPV) systems, or PV thermal (PV/T), but it may be adapted to address these cases in the future
The proposed dynamic temperature prediction model is tested with the building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system, where transient effects can be observed at 1-min interval recordings of PV temperature for a period of 32 days across April–May–June
Summary
The modelling of photovoltaic (PV) temperature has received increased attention in recent years in an effort to accurately predict the power output and final yield of PV systems. The model is validated with the experimental data of over a year, covering a wide range of environmental conditions, PV geometries and mounting configurations from a sun-tracking, a fixed angle PV, and a BIPV system, while it is further compared to the results produced by the aforementioned PV temperature models [4,5,10], illustrating its high predictive capacity, accuracy and robustness This model applies to in-land systems, and limitations may be identified with regards to PV operating in fresh water or sea environments, Floating PV (FPV) systems, or water content in the air, as well as cases of Concentrating PV (CPV) systems, or PV thermal (PV/T), but it may be adapted to address these cases in the future. It is developed for conventional c-Si PV module technology glass-to-Tedlar, but may be adapted through the material properties to cover glass-to-glass or other module and PV technologies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
