Thermal characterization of solar module due to impact of solar heat flux as an effect of geographical topology

Currently just a thousandth of a part of the total solar flux reaching our planet is being used as an effective energy source. In the foreseeable future this use is expected to rise where reliability will be a major factor worth consideration during the design process. A steady state thermal analysis is carried out of a typical solar module assembly to study impact of solar heat flux as a function of time of day and geographic location. A three dimensional finite element model of a module that consists of silicon cells and bus bars sandwiched between glass cover and backsheet using an EVA and adhesive is solved numerically to predict the temperature variation of the solar module assembly. In the analysis the boundary conditions imposed with respect to variation of heat flux as a function of the day of year and geographical topology is applied to the module and temperature variations are evaluated. A parametric study is carried out to study effect of critical parameters such as intensity of solar flux and geographical location on the overall temperature distribution of the solar module assembly. The behavior is studied at selected major cities across the globe and the results are compared on the basis of particular season of the year (fall, spring etc.) and intensity of maximum temperatures observed. A general trend of variation of maximum temperature levels according to the geographical topology is established. Recommendations are provided to minimize the maximum junction temperature which eventually results in a productive design and installation of a solar module assembly.