Performance Of Solar Photovoltaic Module Research Articles

The Effects of Non-Uniformly-Aged Photovoltaic Array on Mismatch Power Loss: A Practical Investigation towards Novel Hybrid Array Configurations

One of the most important causes of a reduction in power generation in PV panels is the non-uniform aging of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The increase in the current–voltage (I–V) mismatch among the array modules is the primary cause of this kind of degradation. There have been several array configurations investigated over the years to reduce mismatch power loss (MPL) caused by shadowing, but there have not been any experimental studies that have specifically examined the impact of various hybrid array topologies taking PV module aging into consideration. This research examines the influence of the non-uniform aging scenario on the performance of solar PV modules with various interconnection strategies. Experiments have been carried out on a 4 × 10, 400 W array with 12 possible configurations, including three proposed configurations (LD-TCT, SP-LD, and LD-SP), to detect the electrical characteristics of a PV system. Finally, the performances of different module configurations are analyzed where the newly proposed configurations (SP-LD and LD-SP) show 15.80% and 15.94% higher recoverable energy (RE), respectively, than the most-adopted configuration (SP). Moreover, among the twelve configurations, the SP configuration shows the highest percentage of MPL, which is about 17.96%, whereas LD-SP shows the lowest MPL at about 4.88%.

Investigation of the trail environment to enhance the efficiency of the solar cell through pre-installation study

This research investigates the performance of solar photovoltaic modules in real-world climatic conditions at various locations in India using MATLAB simulation. The study utilizes a single-diode model and a detailed simulation of a solar PV module to analyze the P-V and I-V characteristics of the module on a monthly basis. The month-wise power output is evaluated in relation to temperature and solar irradiance under various weather conditions. To model the PV module, the input parameters such as solar irradiance and temperature were first determined, and an appropriate PV panel model was selected based on the complexity and accuracy required. The PV panel model was then set up in MATLAB and run to generate the output data. The simulated results were compared to the verified data sheet of the JAM60S10-350/MR module, demonstrating that the simulation accurately represents the PV solar module's performance curve. The study aims to identify the most efficient locations for installing solar PV modules for optimal efficiency. Different models such as single-diode, two-diode, and PV system model can be used to model PV panels depending on the specific conditions being simulated and the level of accuracy required.

Machine learning and analytical model hybridization to assess the impact of climate change on solar PV energy production

The United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda has triggered numerous countries to harness solar energy from solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. However, geographical and climatic factors have a significant impact on the electrical performance of solar PV modules. In addition, since solar PV energy production models are the only physics-based approach to transferring ground-measured PV energy production to other locations, the authors developed 294 physical models from six different PV power technologies and validated them for the model's adaptability. To facilitate the possible determination of PV electric energy generation in the unique geographical and climatic environment of the experiment site, these models were built using machine learning, Gumbel's probabilistic approach (GPM), and hybridization of the two. The major challenges in this study are in developing the hybridized machine learning with the Gumbel probabilistic functional model, which resides in the mathematical transformation process, which required a great deal of repeated mathematical science knowledge to arrive at the final transformed and efficient model for predicting the potential of solar PV output. With a thorough coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9998% and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0063 kwh, the hybrid model with only the measurable solar radiation parameter is the closest to the measured PV energy production of all technologies. The best hybridized model was used to explore the potential impacts of climate change on the different solar PV technologies. This was achieved by using energy parameters from the Australian Community Climate and Global System Simulation (ACCESS-CM2) in Phase 6. On an annual basis, the effects of climate change on various PV technologies have had a small adverse impact (less than 1%) on these renewable energy technologies. It was also found that, compared to other technologies, CIGS thin film technology produced the least negative effects on climate change, with 10.94%–36.75% in the best-case, 35.71%–36.36% in the moderate-case, and 33.33–40.00% in the worst-case scenario for shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585) emissions. This suggests the intrinsic properties of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) thin film modules are more effective at withstanding high temperatures as they contribute 60.00–89.66% of their intrinsic module properties to PV energy production compared to other technologies. However, taking into account the time, resource availability, cost-effectiveness, commercialization, and consumption of various PV technologies studied in this era of global sustainability, poly-crystalline (p-Si) technology is highly recommended for harvesting solar PV energy products in Alice Springs, Australia.

Hybrid cooling techniques to improve the performance of solar photovoltaic modules

Photovoltaic (PV) module efficiency is often impeded by concomitant temperature elevations, which may lead to cell degeneration and decreased electrical efficiency. Cooling techniques are commonly used to avoid this problem; however, current techniques, such as water-sprayer and active cooling systems, still have limitations, including the scattering and reflection of photons. In this study, we present a new active dual-cooling system design using two thermoelectric cooling (TEC) units fixed to the back of a PV module to provide rear-end cooling, which were experimentally and numerically studied. A water-thin film cooling system (WFCS) was maintained at the top surface of the module using a small affixed 72-W DC pump, for improving efficiency. For testing, the system was installed on the roof of an agricultural building in South Korea, and its performance efficiency was compared with that of a reference cooling-free PV module. The results showed that the innovation led to a decrease in the module temperature to 21 °C, which led to an efficiency improvement of 11.23 % with an increase in the daily output energy of 8.3 %. Additionally, a numerical simulation model based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) was used to evaluate the temperature profile of the PV module owing to the cooling technique and temperature distribution on the module’s top surface. The maximum temperature reductions were 17.27 and 12 °C in the experimental and simulation results, respectively.

Experimental investigations for dust build-up on low-iron glass exterior and its effects on the performance of solar PV systems

The performance of solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plants is adversely affected by soiling losses caused by natural dust deposition on the module surface. The size and density of dust particles vary depending on the location. Thus, it is essential to investigate the impact of dust collection on SPV module performance. This work investigates the effect of dust build-up on the low-iron glass surface and the performance of SPV modules. To analyze the characteristics of these dust particles, low-iron glass samples have been chosen, which resemble a front glass surface of the SPV module. To study the holistic pattern of the natural dust accumulation of a particular area, low-iron glass samples have been placed with three different positions like vertical, horizontal, and local tilt angle for Building Integrated Photovoltaic Systems (BIPV) and rooftop PV power plant applications. The mineralogical study of dust particles provides insight in determining the transmittance loss from the glass surface of solar PV modules due to the local soiling loss. Furthermore, the electrical power output of the SPV modules has been monitored at various levels of dust accumulation. Moreover, these findings indicate that natural dust deposition at selected site locations significantly reduces energy generation from PV modules.

Dust Deposition's Effect on Solar Photovoltaic Module Performance: An Experimental Study in India's Tropical Region

Dust Deposition's Effect on Solar Photovoltaic Module Performance: An Experimental Study in India's Tropical Region

Studies on the performance of 150W solar photovoltaic module with evaporative cooling

The increase in surface temperature of solar photovoltaic module due to incident solar radiation has an adverse impact on its performance, reducing its electrical output power and efficiency. Proper cooling can improve the electrical efficiency, and decrease the rate of cell degradation with time, resulting in maximization of life span of photovoltaic modules. Various methods like active cooling, passive cooling and heat pipe cooling are employed to cool the module. In the present work, water passive cooling technique has been used since this method is preferred for small modules and is more efficient because of higher thermal capacity of water. Evaporative cooling is one such technique. Numerical and experimental investigations have been carried out to study the effect of evaporative cooling on the performance of solar photovoltaic module. A two dimensional, steady state, cross flow, heat and mass transfer model has been developed and temperature distribution of air and water across a cooling pad has been studied. An evaporative cooling pad is incorporated at the bottom surface of solar photovoltaic module. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of solar PV module and the results are compared with that of numerical simulation.

PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE THROUGH COMBINED AIR AND WATER COOLING IN WARM AND HUMID CLIMATIC CONDITION OF INDIA

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of solar photovoltaic module through combined air and water cooling arrangements in warm and humid climatic condition i.e. in Odisha in India during winter and summer months. Solar photovoltaic system requires neither fuel nor produces any pollutant resulting into its increased importance in today’s energy sector. The electrical output from a solar panel is a function of its efficiency and some other controlling parameters which affects the same. One of the major parameters controlling the efficiency of the panel is the temperature as it goes on increasing while using the panel in the sun. About 31 % of the incident solar radiation on the panel is converted into the useful energy and the rest part is stored in its back side causing the rise of temperature and adversely affecting its output. The stored thermal energy is of no use and decreases the durability of the in-built components of the panel due to the impact of severe thermal stresses on them resulting into reduction in its life span and conversion capability. The simplest way to enhance the efficiency of the panel is to incorporate the various cooling arrangements such as air cooling, water cooling and combined air and water cooling and assessing their effectiveness without any cooling arrangement. From the studies, it was observed that the efficiencies of solar panel were enhanced in the range of 8-11 %, 12-15% and 16-20% in air, water and combined air and water cooling respectively compared to without cooling in a clear day.

Impact of bird dropping deposition on solar photovoltaic module performance: a systematic study in Western Rajasthan.

One of the most critical challenges is bird dropping deposition (soiling) on a glass surface of the photovoltaic (PV) module in an open environment of Western Rajasthan. This paper has been now exclusively emphasized to focus on effects of the bird dropping phenomenon on the performance of PV systems. The presented study includes the impact of the seasonal bird dropping effect on the reduction in energy yield with various tilt angle configurations. Considering this, the highest level of reduction in power loss was observed at the end of winter (March) and minimum during rainfall (August) every year. The sitting/walking tendency of birds with the plate inclination directly affects the PV output, which is demonstrated by optical study of glass samples (bird dropping patterns). Consequently, the studies of optical transmittance conclude the effect of dropping with different tilt regions I (β < 25°), II (25° ≤ β ≤ 60°), and III (60° ≤ β ≤ 90°), i.e., explained by bird movement onto the module surface. The result also showed that optimal inclination β (40°) has a smaller soiling effect in tilt region II (25-60°) correspondingly.

Effect of color and nano film filters on the performance of solar photovoltaic module

ABSTRACT Solar intensity and surface temperatures have a major impact on the performance of solar photovoltaic modules. Light spectrum has different wavelengths, and energy levels where each of them can affect the solar panel differently. The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of color filters and thermal insulating Nano films on the solar panel output characteristics. Two indoor experiments were conducted where four color filters and three types of insulating Nano films were tested on a photovoltaic module. The results showed that red color filters and Nano films, with a blocking rate of 20%, generated more electrical power than other solar filters. The results also showed that the surface temperature of the photovoltaic module was significantly decreased by applying certain color and Nano film filters. This research aims to improve the overall performance of the solar cell by controlling the solar intensity and decreasing the surface temperature through applying color and Nano film filters.

Cost effective cooling of photovoltaic modules to improve efficiency

This study presents the performance of solar photovoltaic modules provided with cooling in terms of its normalized power output, performance ratio, and module efficiency. The aim of the study is to improve the performance, efficiency, and development of an economical cooling system by installing photovoltaic modules on the duct of cooled air of air-conditioners being used in most of the houses, offices and other buildings. The performance was researched and compared for two photovoltaic modules, one being cooled and other without cooling. The module being cooled showed 7.2% and 6% higher electrical efficiency and performance ratio respectively compared to the module without cooling. The results obtained in this study comprehend the importance and feasibility of the research.

Experimental study of the effect of fully shading on the Solar PV module performance

Experimental tests were performed to study the effects of shading for different string inside the photovoltaic (PV) panels, power equipped with different number of diodes from the same manufacturer as of solar panel. The IV curve for all cases were recorded to see how the bypass diodes will reduce the effects of shading .The case for 3 by pass diode show the best performance of solar PV module under shading phenomena.

Rail coaches with rooftop solar photovoltaic systems: A feasibility study

The performance of solar photovoltaic modules mounted on the rooftop of a rail coach of The Indian Railways is reported here. The focus of this experiment was to quantify the reduction in diesel consumption of the end-on generation system that powers the electrical load in the new generation coaches. A coach retrofitted with two flexible solar photovoltaic modules was run at speeds up to 120 km/h by coupling it to three popular trains of south India. Based on the experimental results, the benefits of operating solar rail coaches is projected. It is estimated that one solar rail coach can generate atleast 18 kWh of electricity in a day, leading to an annual diesel saving of 1700 litre. The Indian Railways operates 63,511 coaches and hence, under ideal conditions, can save around 108.5 million litre of diesel annually. This would help to control environmental pollution and mitigate climate change, as it reduces the carbon dioxide emission by 2.9 million tonnes in a year. A statistical model was developed to estimate the power output per unit rooftop area of the coach, to enable The Indian Railways to calculate the benefits of operating solar rail coaches on various routes.

Evaluation of solar modelling techniques through experiment on a 627 kWp photo-voltaic solar power plant at Edinburgh College—Midlothian Campus, Scotland

The accuracy and applicability of existing methods of solar resource modelling and solar photovoltaic module performance are investigated in the case of a ground array installation at Edinburgh College, Midlothian Campus, the principal derived quantities consisting of slope irradiation, cell temperature, and cell efficiency. Experimental data were obtained on site through both automated and manual measurements for comparison with the calculated quantities. Results indicate that the horizontal-to-slope conversion models used are extremely accurate, with greater than 99% degree of confidence in the calculated results. Likewise, correlations between measured and calculated cell temperature were very high at up to 94%. Estimations of the cell efficiency and hence module output were less reliable, however, with only one of the models used, for one of the days studied, giving reasonable results. Efficiency values were, however, in the approximately correct range of 15%–20%.

Energy and exergy performance evaluation of a typical solar photovoltaic module

This paper presents the energy and exergy performance evaluation of heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) solar photovoltaic (SPV) module for a particular day of different months of the year of a typical climatic zone of north India. The energy, exergy and power conversion efficiencies have been calculated and plotted against time based on hourly insolation. The variation in all the efficiencies has been observed with respect to variation in solar radiation and wind speed and found that all the efficiencies are higher in morning and evening time as compared to noon time which is due to the variation in temperature of module throughout the day. Performance of SPV module has been found to be the best in the month of February i.e. all the three efficiencies have been found to be the highest among all the months analysed and presented in the study for the month of February. The energy efficiency is found to be always higher than that power conversion and exergy efficiencies. However, exergy efficiency in some months like February, May, June, September, October and December has been found to be higher than that of power conversion efficiency, reverse is found in rest of the months.

A New Method to Reduce Soiling Effect on Performance of a Solar PV Module

In spite of many advantages behind the dependence on the photovoltaic (PV) systems butthe efficiency level of the PV module still not satisfying. The fuel of the PV modules is the amount of sun light absorbedby the module and that depends on many factors such as front surface reflectivity, solar beam incidence angle and the most important is the transmissivity of the front surface. Soiling and dust accumulation reduce the transmissivity. This article presents a review for the studies about the impact of dust accumulation on solar PV module performance and a discussion for some solutions or cleaning techniques implemented in the previous studies. Also in this work, a new method is introduced to reduce the soiling. The method can briefly described as a moving cover with a cotton cloth attached firmly to the backside of the cover. At sunset, the module should be covered and the cloth wipes down part of the dust and the opposite happens at the sunrise. The results showed that a 9.22% gain in power produced by covered module than the uncovered module. Also, the covered module output was very close to the module after it was cleaned.