Investigating encapsulation design strategy of photovoltaic cells in the case of a solar race car

A Pavlovic,M Bertoldi,C Fragassa,V Mikhnych

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/1214/1/012042

Abstract

The efficiency in converting solar energy into electricity is fundamental wherever photovoltaic panels are present, still more crucial in the design of racing solar vehicles. Even minimal reductions in conversion ratio, maintained for the long solar races, cause solar cars to lose race positions and competitiveness. Here we introduce a numerical-experimental study for choosing the best combination of materials to encapsulate cells in solar roofs. The tangible expectation is to improve the performance of the monocrystalline silicon cells used in our solar vehicle by maximizing heat dissipation to the environment. The operating temperature is in fact a determining factor for efficient conversion, with efficiency drops of the order of 5% every 10 °C. Different stratifications, some of which quite unusual in solar panel design, were compared by transient thermal simulations and experiments. Specifically, five alternatives were analyzed, varying in the presence and thickness of the encapsulation materials (ETFE, EVA and PET). The main scope of the work, however, was not choosing the best among several specific hypotheses, but the development of an accurate numerical model able to predict the behavior of the solar panel in conditions close to the expected ones. This model, in fact, has provided valuable help in optimizing the vehicle design by allowing to evaluate the effect of alternative materials and construction solutions in the cell’s construction housing structure.

Highlights

For the last few decades, our world has been facing a wide variety of challenges such as climate change, depletion of natural resources and catastrophic fossil fuel impacts
Solar cars refer to the electrical vehicle which is powered by solar energy gained from PV panels that are placed on the roof of the car
We are dealing with solar cells, and they have a fundamental effect on the PV module temperature change

Summary

Introduction

For the last few decades, our world has been facing a wide variety of challenges such as climate change, depletion of natural resources and catastrophic fossil fuel impacts. The second aim is to validate the model by performing infrared (IR) thermography experiments for the same solar cell samples These two steps will help to obtain the thermal characteristics of the PV module and optimize its performance. [15] present arguments to emphasize that reducing an operating temperature contributes to a gain in cell and module efficiency. They indicate that operating temperature has a notable impact on the electrical efficiency of the PV module. Several alternative layups of the PV modules were considered with the scope to investigate the effect of design changes in terms of thermal behavior and efficiency, before incorporating them on a solar vehicle [18] [19] [20]. Presented research is continuation of the previously presented paper [21]

Methods

Results

Conclusion