Validated simulation for thermal regulation of photovoltaic wall structures

Author

Yang, H.X. ; Marshall, R.H. ; Brinkworth, B.J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Building Services Eng., Hong Kong Polytech. Univ., Hong Kong

fYear

1996

fDate

13-17 May 1996

Firstpage

1453

Lastpage

1456

Abstract

A simulation model for PV wall structures is developed so that its thermal and electrical behaviour can be analysed and predicted. The air flow in the air duct behind the PV modules, and the heat transfer through the backing structure can also be calculated. The numerical solution of the governing equations for the air flow in the air duct yield the air velocity and temperature distributions along the air duct. An air duct with lower height and deeper depth can achieve a better performance of ventilation effect for PV modules. An indoor PV wall test rig was built for validation of the simulation model. With a well designed ventilated PV wall structure, the PV cell temperature can be reduced by 15°C and the PV module power output can be increased by 8.0% compared with nonventilation PV wall structures. The simulation model predicts well the air flow behaviour inside the air duct

Keywords

heat transfer; photovoltaic power systems; semiconductor device models; solar cell arrays; solar cells; thermal analysis; PV performance; PV wall structures; air duct; air flow; governing equations; heat transfer; simulation model; thermal regulation; ventilation effect; Analytical models; Ducts; Equations; Heat transfer; Photovoltaic systems; Predictive models; Solar power generation; Temperature distribution; Testing; Ventilation;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996., Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE

Conference_Location

Washington, DC

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3166-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.1996.564409

Filename

564409