Abstract
This paper examines the performance of solar photovoltaic generators on roofs of residential buildings. The primary focus is the loss of performance due to temperature increase as function of roof material and the distance from the photovoltaic (PV) generator to the roof. A heat transfer model has been developed to predict PV module temperature, and the equations of the model were solved using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. The research modeling correlates the distance of the solar generator to the roof and the roofing material with the temperature variations in the PV generator. There are many models to predict PV module temperature, but this study refines the prediction by the distance from PV module to roof and the roofing material as variables. Optimal combinations of distance and materials that minimize the heating loss in the solar generator leading to increased electrical power generation. Results show an average error of 3%–4% from the temperature predicted by the model to the temperature measured under experimental conditions in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The minimum roof-module separation required to ensure minimal PV performance loss from heating from the roof is ∼10 cm for red ceramic and cement fiber roofs. For galvanized steel, the optimal distance is between 20 cm and 30 cm. Cement fiber shows the best predicted and measured characteristics for PV-panel roof mounting among the 3-common commercial roofs evaluated in these studies. These investigations were based on roof installations and local materials in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Highlights
Cumulative PV installations in Brazil reached 8 GW at the end of 2020, and the country has a solar-PV target of at least 90 GW by 2050 [1]
Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software was used [51], incorporating the equations of the heat transfer model in order to define the temperature of PV module over different available types of roofing materials
At the 30 cm distance between the PV module and the roof, an increase in temperature was recorded for all materials, which suggests that large installation distances are not desirable Figure 5 shows the field experiment to validate the mathematical model
Summary
Cumulative PV installations in Brazil reached 8 GW at the end of 2020, and the country has a solar-PV target of at least 90 GW by 2050 [1]. This study evaluates the installation of PV rooftop systems in the Brazil environment, based on common Brazil roofs, materials, and configurations. The objective and major contributions of current work are modeling the roof-mounted PV-module temperature for common commercially used roofing materials to evaluate and characterize its power output under the equitorial climatic zone conditions of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil [23]. This includes the experimental validation of the model under operating conditions in this locality
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