Thermal Effects on Photovoltaic Array Performance: Experimentation, Modeling, and Simulation

Abstract

The performance of photovoltaic (PV) arrays are affected by the operating temperature, which is influenced by thermal losses to the ambient environment. The factors affecting thermal losses include wind speed, wind direction, and ambient temperature. The purpose of this work is to analyze how the aforementioned factors affect array efficiency, temperature, and heat transfer coefficient/thermal loss factor. Data on ambient and array temperatures, wind speed and direction, solar irradiance, and electrical output were collected from a PV array mounted on a CanmetENERGY facility in Varennes, Canada, and analyzed. The results were compared with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and existing results from PVsyst. The findings can be summarized into three points. First, ambient temperature and wind speed are important factors in determining PV performance, while wind direction seems to play a minor role. Second, CFD simulations found that temperature variation on the PV array surface is greater at lower wind speeds, and decreases at higher wind speeds. Lastly, an empirical correlation of heat transfer coefficient/thermal loss factor has been developed.

Impact and performance efficiency analysis of grid-tied solar photovoltaic system based on installation site environmental factors

“…Thermal losses depend on wind speed, wind distribution, and ambient temperature. 15 Several factors are responsible for thermal losses in the photovoltaic module, listed as follows. 14 • Intrinsic thermal performance characteristics of the material used in the construction of solar cell/ module.…”

“…Thermal losses depend on wind speed, wind distribution, and ambient temperature. 15 Several factors are responsible for thermal losses in the photovoltaic module, listed as follows. 14 Intrinsic thermal performance characteristics of the material used in the construction of solar cell/module. How is the photovoltaic panel mounted or installed in a typical location? Climatic conditions of that typical location. Many factors influence the performance of a photovoltaic module.…”

Optimization of Photovoltaic Panel Array Configurations to Reduce Lift Force Using Genetic Algorithm and CFD

“…The jump was more drastic in the 1990s, with performance ratios improving from 70% to 80% in ten years. Ghabuzyan et al [27] studied the thermal effect on photovoltaic array performance and concluded that wind velocity plays an important role in estimating PV performance. The efficiency of PV increases linearly with increased wind velocity.…”

Effects of Dynamic Shading on Thermal Exergy and Exergy Efficiency of a Photovoltaic Array

“…Dhimish (2020) comprehensively discussed the performance ratio (PR) of 8000 PV panels distributed across three regions in England by detailed experiments of three different PV modules [23]. Ghabuzyan et al (2021) investigated the thermal effects on photovoltaic array performance. In their studies, the relationships between ambient temperature, wind speed, and wind direction on PV electrical output were analysed [24].…”

“…Ghabuzyan et al (2021) investigated the thermal effects on photovoltaic array performance. In their studies, the relationships between ambient temperature, wind speed, and wind direction on PV electrical output were analysed [24].…”