Numerical Validation of a New Approach to Model Single Junction Low Concentration PV Cells under Non-Uniform Illumination

Hang Zhou,Michele Bottarelli,Marco Bortoloni,Yuehong Su,Shenyi Wu

doi:10.3390/en8054529

Abstract

This study presents a numerical validation of a new approach to model single junction PV cell under non-uniform illumination for low-concentration solar collectors such as compound parabolic concentrators (CPC). The simulation is achieved by finite element modelling (FEM). To characterize the results, the model is simulated with five different non-uniform illumination profiles. The results indicate that increasing the non-uniformity of concentrated light will introduce more resistive losses and lead to a significant attenuation in the PV cell short-circuit current. The FEM modelling results are then used to validate the array modelling approach, in which a single junction PV cell is considered equivalent to a parallel-connected array of several cell splits. A comparison between the FEM and array modelling approaches shows good agreement. Therefore, the array modelling approach is a fast way to investigate the PV cell performance under non-uniform illumination, while the FEM approach is useful in optimizing design of fingers and bus-bars on a PV.

Highlights

Increasing energy demands and environmental pollution have brought more attention on solar energy.It has many advantages, such as being pollution-free, safe, reliable and economically efficient [1,2].The application of compound parabolic concentrating (CPC) technology offers the potential of increasing the electrical output by several-fold while using same number of PV cells [3]
This study has presented the finite element modelling (FEM) of a single junction low concentration
PV cell, with the purpose of validating a new approach to model concentrating single junction PV cells under non-uniform illumination, in which a PV cell is considered equivalent to a parallel-connected array of several cell splits

Summary

Introduction

Increasing energy demands and environmental pollution have brought more attention on solar energy.It has many advantages, such as being pollution-free, safe, reliable and economically efficient [1,2].The application of compound parabolic concentrating (CPC) technology offers the potential of increasing the electrical output by several-fold while using same number of PV cells [3]. A particular issue for CPC technology is the non-uniformity of illumination incident on the PV cell surface, which could cause hot spots, current mismatch and reduce the cell performance [4]. Understanding this issue and designing the cell appropriately could help to optimize cell efficiency. Mellor et al [7] proposed two dimensional finite element modelling (FEM) to simulate the front surface current flow in cells under non-uniform illumination and it explored new ideas for concentrated PV cell modelling. The simulation and experiment work done by Chemisana et al [8]

Methods

Results

Conclusion