Experimental and numerical study of the influence of string mismatch on the yield of PV modules augmented by static planar reflectors

Abstract

Abstract-Photovoltaic (PV) modules are generally installed by the application of empirical rules aimed at reducing shadows during the periods of high solar irradiation. A traditional installation on a horizontal surface results in largely spaced rows of modules with a relatively low tilt angle. The addition of inter-row reflectors results in more direct and diffuse flux transmitted to the cells. The "Aleph" (Amélioration de l'Efficacité Photovoltaïque) project aims to define clear rules for optimal settings of systems of PV module rows with fixed inter-row planar reflectors in a given location and under a given climate. Two PV technologies are tested for performance with this type of system: amorphous silicon (a-Si) and polycrystalline silicon (p-Si). This work combines experiments on panel behavior in an outdoor environment on the SIRTA (Site Instrumental de Recherche par Télédétection Atmosphérique) meteorology platform and a multiphysics numerical model used to couple all the important physical phenomena and accurately describe the system behavior. The model includes a ray tracing radiation/optics module based on the Monte-Carlo method, as well as an electrical module simulated in SPICE. This work presents the influence of the string mismatch losses, present at periods of heterogeneous illumination, on the yield of PV modules augmented by static planar reflectors.

Boosting the energy output of an On-Grid solar PV system using a novel techniques

“…Some studies have revealed that a vertical PV module with a horizontal planar concentrator is the best position at high latitudes (Duffie et al, 2020). Pavlov et al (2015), revealed that using planar concentrators increased daily power by 35% during cloudless days at specified times of the year. Bahaidarah et al (2013), developed a solar system that is cooled by the flow of water on the backside of the PV module in the Al-Dhahran (KSA) climatic condition.…”

Sequential Optimization for PV Panel Parameter Estimation

“…This model is called the single-diode model [4]- [12] with five modeling parameters: light-induced current I L , diode dark saturation current I s , diode quality factor m, series resistance R s , and shunt resistance R sh . Another diode, when added in parallel to the first diode, models the effect of recombination in the junction space charge region and is called the double-diode model [13]- [16]. Introduction of the second diode adds two additional parameters, namely the diode quality factor m 2 and the dark saturation current I s 2 .…”