Experimental and numerical simulation of a 2.88 kW PV grid-connected system under the terrestrial conditions of Sharjah city

Abstract

Solar PV technology is rapidly and widely expanding throughout the world, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE has harsh climate conditions, with high ambient temperature, irradiance, and humidity for most of the year. In this study, three-dimensional numerical simulations were run for a 2.88 kW PV grid-connected system in Sharjah, UAE, under actual conditions. The experimental and mathematical results for PV module temperature and electrical power are compared. The parametric study looks at how weather conditions affect system temperature, electrical efficiency, and power. Furthermore, the current research determined the cooling requirements for such PV systems in a variety of terrestrial conditions. To determine how ambient temperature and wind speed affect PV module temperature, electrical efficiency, and electrical output under various irradiance levels, a parametric study was conducted. The findings demonstrate that at low irradiance, low and high ambient temperatures and wind speeds, respectively, yield the lowest PV module temperature and maximum electrical efficiency. High irradiance values have no effect on wind speed, but low ambient temperatures have the most electrical power. Back cooling must be at least 200 W/m2 K to maintain an electrical efficiency of roughly 14.75%. The reduction of the highest temperature at the center of the cell of the 2.88 kW PV grid-connected system by using back cooling reduces by 26 °C for the worse case season where the highest temperature occurs.