The mathematical modeling of concentrated photovoltaic module temperature

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effect of the use of paraffin wax on the panel temperature of concentrated solar panels. Some tests were performed on various days for three months (including spring, summer, and winter months). With the help of the experimental results, new approaches have been made as concentrator ratio, area ratio, concentrator efficiency and power coefficient. As a result of this approaches the concentrator ratio was found to be 3. When the concentrator ratio was 3, the panel temperature of the system with paraffin was found to be between 80 and 100 °C, while that of the other system was found to be above 100 °C. Panel efficiency might be reduced down to 10% at these temperatures. The study also included the development of a mathematical model of the changes in the panel temperature of the concentrated systems in which paraffin was not used. The temperature at the back of the panels could be calculated by this mathematical model, depending on the ambient temperature and the concentrated solar radiation. The correlation coefficient of the mathematical model was found to be 0.929. The test results of two days, which were not included in the model, were used to determine the reliability of the model, and the panel temperatures were calculated using the correlation coefficients of 0.933 and 0.966.