Unraveling temperature distribution within crystalline silicon PV modules by different finite element method-based thermal modeling approaches

Špela Tomšič (Author), Benjamin Lipovšek (Author), Matevž Bokalič (Author), Marko Topič (Author)

Abstract

In this work, the steady-state spatial temperature distribution in commercial high-efficiency crystalline silicon PV modules is studied using different FEM-based thermal models that encompass conductive, convective, and radiative heat transfer mechanisms. The results show that the lateral temperature distribution within the PV module depends on the module inclination angle and may be highly inhomogeneous, with a temperature difference of ▫$\backapprox$▫ 5 °C between its warmest and coolest solar cells. Furthermore, It is demonstrated that wind plays a crucial role in determining the operating temperature of PV devices. Specifically, it is shown that forced convection has an even more significant positive effect at higher wind speeds and larger PV module dimensions since the transformation of laminar to turbulent wind contributes to additional cooling. Finally, the power losses associated with the lateral temperature variations across the PV module are analyzed. The results show that the effect of temperature inhomogeneity plays a negligible role in the performance of standard single-junction silicon PV modules due to a very small temperature coefficient of the solar cell short-circuit current.

Keywords

kristalnosilicijevi PV moduli;termično modeliranje na osnovi metode končnih elementov;mehanizmi prenosa toplote;temperaturna porazdelitev;izguba moči PV modula zaradi temperaturne nehomogenosti;crystalline silicon PV modules;FEM-based thermal modeling;heat transfer mechanisms;temperature distribution;temperature inhomogeneity-induced PV module power loss;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2024
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
UDC:	621.383.51
COBISS:	220284931
ISSN:	2513-0390
Views:	122
Downloads:	49
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	kristalnosilicijevi PV moduli;termično modeliranje na osnovi metode končnih elementov;mehanizmi prenosa toplote;temperaturna porazdelitev;izguba moči PV modula zaradi temperaturne nehomogenosti;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	11 str.
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ
Issue:	ǂiss. ǂ, [article no.] 2401026
Chronology:	2024
DOI:	10.1002/adts.202401026
ID:	26048598