Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Topic Editors are inviting submissions for a Topic on the subject area of “Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules”.

Solar modules are subject to considerable time variation of the temperature depending upon season, hour of the day, presence of clouds, wind speed, and nonuniform temperature distributions dictated by dirt, partial architectural shading, malfunctioning events, which in severe cases might also turn into hot-spots. High temperatures affect power production, while hot-spots are likely to entail reliability reduction (i.e., early aging) and even irreversible failures. It is therefore clear that an accurate electrothermal modeling of the solar module can be of paramount importance for the photovoltaic community, since it can (i) help to provide an in-depth understanding of the temperature influence on the behavior of the individual cells and the entire module and (ii) support the interpretation of IR maps (e.g., taken by low-flying drones), both aspects being poorly covered by the literature.

Papers suited to this Topic should be focused on:

• analysis of the 3-D heat propagation within the cell and/or the module;
• description and interpretation of the electrothermal (i.e., power-temperature) feedback;
• impact on the temperature field of position (latitude and longitude), tilt angle, day, hour of the day, and boundary conditions (including both radiative and convective mechanisms);
• efficient approaches to deal with the thermal and the electrical problems, as well as with the coupling between them;
• techniques relying on a calibrated electrothermal model for the interpretation of experimental temperature maps.

Prof. Dr. Vincenzo d'Alessandro
Prof. Dr. Pierluigi Guerriero
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Energies energies	3.0	6.2	2008	17.5 Days	CHF 2600
Materials materials	3.1	5.8	2008	15.5 Days	CHF 2600
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.3	2011	17.8 Days	CHF 2400
Polymers polymers	4.7	8.0	2009	14.5 Days	CHF 2700
Solar solar	-	-	2021	27.4 Days	CHF 1000

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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10 pages, 486 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Straightforward Approach to Drawing Temperature-Dependent I–V Curves of Solar Cell Models

by Rolf Klein

Solar 2022, 2(4), 509-518; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar2040030 - 4 Nov 2022

Viewed by 8273

Abstract

Equivalent circuit models of solar cells are important for understanding the behavior of photovoltaic systems under different weather conditions. They provide an equation $F(V,I)=0$ that expresses the correspondence between voltage V and current I a cell [...] Read more.

Equivalent circuit models of solar cells are important for understanding the behavior of photovoltaic systems under different weather conditions. They provide an equation $F(V,I)=0$ that expresses the correspondence between voltage V and current I a cell can deliver. The performance of a cell, and, therefore, the parameters of equation F, depend on the cell’s temperature and on the incoming light’s energy and angle. One would like to simulate and visualize these dependencies in real time. Given a fixed set of parameters, no elementary solution $s\left(V\right)=I$ of Equation $F(V,I)=0$ is known. Hence, circuit simulation systems employ numerical methods to solve this equation and to approximate the circuit’s I–V curve, $C_{IV}$. In this note, we propose a simpler approach. Instead of expressing I as a function of V, we represent both as elementary functions $V\left(u\right)$ and $I\left(u\right)$ of a real parameter u. In this way, the I–V curve $C_{IV}$ is obtained as the image of the mapping $m\left(u\right)=\left(V\right(u),I(u\left)\right)$ from a u-interval to the $VI$-plane. Our approach offers both a precise mathematical description of $C_{IV}$ and an easy way to draw it. This allows us to study the influence of environmental changes on $C_{IV}$ by smooth animations, and yet with rather simple means. In this paper, we consider temperature dependence as an example; changes in irradiance or angle could be incorporated as well. Using formulae suggested in the literature that describe how the parameters in equation $F(V,I)=0$ depend on temperature, it takes only a few lines of code to generate an interactive worksheet that shows how $C_{IV}$, the location of the maximum power point MPP and the maximum power change as the circuit’s temperature, is altered on a slider. Such a worksheet and its location will be presented in this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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11 pages, 3630 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Sun—A Stand to Test New PVT Minimodules

by Ewa Raj, Katarzyna Znajdek, Mateusz Dionizy, Przemysław Czarnecki, Przemysław Niedzielski, Łukasz Ruta and Zbigniew Lisik

Energies 2022, 15(9), 3430; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15093430 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1750

Abstract

Hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) modules have gained more attention because of their benefits of higher total efficiency and lower gross area of installation in comparison with photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal collectors (T). Although international standards for separate panels, photovoltaics, or thermal collectors [...] Read more.

Hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) modules have gained more attention because of their benefits of higher total efficiency and lower gross area of installation in comparison with photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal collectors (T). Although international standards for separate panels, photovoltaics, or thermal collectors are available, the lack of testing procedures for PVT panels is a problem, especially if a high level of integration between the two parts is implemented. In the paper, a new stand to test new PVT minimodules is proposed and verified. It allows a reduction of the influence of environmental conditions on the tested T or PVT structures. Research conducted on lamp configurations confirms the possibility of achieving a high uniformity of light intensity, with values close to the AM1.5 spectrum standard (1049 ± 34 W/m²). The first measurements of new PVT minimodules have proven their usefulness, as well as the potential of a new hybrid solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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18 pages, 5804 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Outdoor Performance of Organic Photovoltaics: Comparative Analysis

by Alberto Dolara, Sonia Leva, Giampaolo Manzolini, Riccardo Simonetti and Iacopo Trattenero

Energies 2022, 15(5), 1620; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15051620 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2632

Abstract

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells represent an emerging and promising solution for low-cost clean energy production. Being flexible and semi-transparent and having significant advantages over conventional PV technologies, OPV modules represent an innovative solution even in applications that cannot be based on traditional [...] Read more.

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells represent an emerging and promising solution for low-cost clean energy production. Being flexible and semi-transparent and having significant advantages over conventional PV technologies, OPV modules represent an innovative solution even in applications that cannot be based on traditional PV systems. However, relatively low efficiencies, poor long-term stability, and thermal issues have so far prevented the commercialization of this technology. This paper describes two outdoor experimental campaigns that compared the operation of OPV modules with traditional PV modules—in particular crystalline silicon and copper–indium–selenium (CIS)—and assessed the OPV modules’ power generation potential in vertical installation and facing towards the cardinal directions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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15 pages, 4651 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Application Characteristics of Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric Radiant Windows

by Wenjie Zhang, Jiajun Zhang, Fengcheng Huang, Yuqiang Zhao and Yongheng Zhong

Energies 2021, 14(20), 6645; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206645 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1621

Abstract

Through experiments and numerical simulation, this paper studies the related performance of a photovoltaic thermoelectric radiation cooling window structure, verifies the accuracy of the established solar thermoelectric radiation window calculation model, and analyzes the cooling performance of different parameters of thermoelectric sheet, radiation [...] Read more.

Through experiments and numerical simulation, this paper studies the related performance of a photovoltaic thermoelectric radiation cooling window structure, verifies the accuracy of the established solar thermoelectric radiation window calculation model, and analyzes the cooling performance of different parameters of thermoelectric sheet, radiation plate, and photovoltaic panel. On the basis of considering the relationship between the power generation and power consumption of the structure, the numerical calculation results show that the solar thermoelectric radiation window with non-transparent photovoltaic module (NTPV) has a total cooling capacity of 50.2 kWh, power consumption of 71.8 kWh, and power generation of 83.9 kWh from June to August. The solar thermoelectric radiation window with translucent photovoltaic module (STPV) has a total cooling capacity of 50.7 kWh, power consumption of 71.7 kWh, and power generation of 45.4 kWh from June to August. If the operation time of the thermoelectric module is limited, when the daily operation time of TEM is less than 8 h, the power generation of STPV can meet the power consumption demand of the thermoelectric radiation window from June to August. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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14 pages, 2526 KiB  

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

SPICE-Aided Modeling of Daily and Seasonal Changes in Properties of the Actual Photovoltaic Installation

by Krzysztof Górecki, Jacek Dąbrowski and Ewa Krac

Energies 2021, 14(19), 6247; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196247 - 1 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2006

Abstract

This article proposes a model of an actual photovoltaic installation situated in the Gdynia Maritime University, Poland. This model is formulated in the form of a SPICE network. In the presented model, the influence of selected weather parameters and thermal phenomena on the [...] Read more.

This article proposes a model of an actual photovoltaic installation situated in the Gdynia Maritime University, Poland. This model is formulated in the form of a SPICE network. In the presented model, the influence of selected weather parameters and thermal phenomena on the properties of the components of this installation are taken into account. The structure of the analyzed installation and the form of the formulated model are both presented. By means of this model, values of the power produced by the installation considered in different seasons and different times of the day are computed. The obtained computation results are compared to the measurement results. Good agreement between the results of measurements and computations is obtained. The obtained results of the investigations confirm the considerable influence of weather conditions, as well as daily and seasonal changes in solar irradiation and the ambient temperature, on the electrical energy produced. In the summer months, a decrease in the energy efficiency of the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy in comparison to the winter months is also visible and can even be twofold. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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21 pages, 10132 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Smart and Renewable Energy System to Power a Temperature-Controlled Greenhouse

by Jamel Riahi, Silvano Vergura, Dhafer Mezghani and Abdelkader Mami

Energies 2021, 14(17), 5499; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14175499 - 3 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2728

Abstract

This paper presents the modeling and simulation of a Multi-Source Power System (MSPS)—composed of two renewable energy sources and supported by a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)—to supply the ventilation and heating system for a temperature-controlled agricultural greenhouse. The first one is a [...] Read more.

This paper presents the modeling and simulation of a Multi-Source Power System (MSPS)—composed of two renewable energy sources and supported by a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)—to supply the ventilation and heating system for a temperature-controlled agricultural greenhouse. The first one is a photovoltaic (PV) generator connected to a DC/AC inverter and the second one is a wind turbine connected to a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG). The temperature contribution in the model of the PV generator is deeply studied. A Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control based on fuzzy logic is used to drive a SEPIC converter to feed the maximum power to the greenhouse actuators. The operation of the actuators (ventilation and heating systems), on the basis of the mismatch between the internal temperature and the reference one, is controlled by a PI controller optimized by fuzzy logic, for more robust results. The simulation of the system is carried out in a Matlab/Simulink environment and its validation is based on the comparison between the simulated and experimental data for a test greenhouse, located in the Faculty of Science in Tunis. The results show that the proposed system provides an efficient solution for controlling the microclimate of the agricultural greenhouse in different periods of the year. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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19 pages, 6918 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Using EMPHASIS for the Thermography-Based Fault Detection in Photovoltaic Plants

by Antonio Pio Catalano, Ciro Scognamillo, Pierluigi Guerriero, Santolo Daliento and Vincenzo d’Alessandro

Energies 2021, 14(6), 1559; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14061559 - 11 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2561

Abstract

In this paper, an Efficient Method for PHotovoltaic Arrays Study through Infrared Scanning (EMPHASIS) is presented; it is a fast, simple, and trustworthy cell-level diagnosis method for commercial photovoltaic (PV) panels. EMPHASIS processes temperature maps experimentally obtained through IR cameras and is based [...] Read more.

In this paper, an Efficient Method for PHotovoltaic Arrays Study through Infrared Scanning (EMPHASIS) is presented; it is a fast, simple, and trustworthy cell-level diagnosis method for commercial photovoltaic (PV) panels. EMPHASIS processes temperature maps experimentally obtained through IR cameras and is based on a power balance equation. Along with the identification of malfunction events, EMPHASIS offers an innovative feature, i.e., it estimates the electrical powers generated (or dissipated) by the individual cells. A procedure to evaluate the accuracy of the EMPHASIS predictions is proposed, which relies on detailed three-dimensional (3-D) numerical simulations to emulate realistic temperature maps of PV panels under any working condition. Malfunctioning panels were replicated in the numerical environment and the corresponding temperature maps were fed to EMPHASIS. Excellent results were achieved in both the cell- and panel-level power predictions. More specifically, the estimation of the power production of a PV panel with a shunted cell demonstrated an error lower than 1%. In cases of strong nonuniformities as a PV panel in hotspot, an estimation error in the range of 9–16% was quantified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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20 pages, 9397 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Electro-Thermal PV Temperature and Power Output Prediction Model for Any PV Geometries in Free-Standing and BIPV Systems Operating under Any Environmental Conditions

by Eleni Kaplani and Socrates Kaplanis

Energies 2020, 13(18), 4743; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184743 - 11 Sep 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2719

Abstract

PV temperature significantly affects the module’s power output and final system yield, and its accurate prediction can serve the forecasting of PV power output, smart grid operations, online PV diagnostics and dynamic predictive management of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. This paper presents [...] Read more.

PV temperature significantly affects the module’s power output and final system yield, and its accurate prediction can serve the forecasting of PV power output, smart grid operations, online PV diagnostics and dynamic predictive management of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. This paper presents a dynamic PV temperature prediction model based on transient Energy Balance Equations, incorporating theoretical expressions for all heat transfer processes, natural convection, forced convection, conduction and radiation exchanges between both module sides and the environment. The algorithmic approach predicts PV temperature at the centre of the cell, the back and the front glass cover with fast convergence and serves the PV power output prediction. The simulation model is robust, predicting PV temperature with high accuracy at any environmental conditions, PV inclination, orientation, wind speed and direction, and mounting configurations, free-standing and BIPV. These, alongside its theoretical basis, ensure the model’s wide applicability and clear advantage over existing PV temperature prediction models. The model is validated for a wide range of environmental conditions, PV geometries and mounting configurations with experimental data from a sun-tracking, a fixed angle PV and a BIPV system. The deviation between predicted and measured power output for the fixed-angle and the sun-tracking PV systems was estimated at −1.4% and 1.9%, respectively. The median of the temperature difference between predicted and measured values was as low as 0.5 °C for the sun-tracking system, and for all cases, the predicted temperature profiles were closely matching the measured profiles. The PV temperature and power output predicted by this model are compared to the results produced by other well-known PV temperature models, illustrating its high predictive capacity, accuracy and robustness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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21 pages, 5313 KiB  

Open AccessReview

A Comprehensive Review on Bypass Diode Application on Photovoltaic Modules

by Romênia G. Vieira, Fábio M. U. de Araújo, Mahmoud Dhimish and Maria I. S. Guerra

Energies 2020, 13(10), 2472; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13102472 - 14 May 2020

Cited by 129 | Viewed by 14605

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy has shown significant expansion on the installed capacity over the last years. Most of its power systems are installed on rooftops, integrated into buildings. Considering the fast development of PV plants, it has becoming even more critical to understand [...] Read more.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy has shown significant expansion on the installed capacity over the last years. Most of its power systems are installed on rooftops, integrated into buildings. Considering the fast development of PV plants, it has becoming even more critical to understand the performance and reliability of such systems. One of the most common problems faced in PV plants occurs when solar cells receive non-uniform irradiance or partially shaded. The consequences of shading generally are prevented by bypass diodes. A significant number of studies and technical reports have been published as of today, based on extensive experience from research and field feedbacks. However, such material has not been cataloged or analyzed from a perspective of the technological evolution of bypass diodes devices. This paper presents a comprehensive review and highlights recent advances, ongoing research, and prospects, as reported in the literature, on bypass diode application on photovoltaic modules. First, it outlines the shading effect and hotspot problem on PV modules. Following, it explains bypass diodes’ working principle, as well as discusses how such devices can impact power output and PV modules’ reliability. Then, it gives a thorough review of recently published research, as well as the state of the art in the field. In conclusion, it makes a discussion on the overview and challenges to bypass diode as a mitigation technique. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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10 pages, 1596 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Temperature-Dependent Analysis of Solid-State Photon-Enhanced Thermionic Emission Solar Energy Converter

by Yang Yang, Wei Wei Cao, Peng Xu, Bing Li Zhu, Yong Lin Bai, Bo Wang, Jun Jun Qin and Xiao Hong Bai

Energies 2020, 13(7), 1554; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13071554 - 27 Mar 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2560

Abstract

Solid-state photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) solar energy converters are newly proposed devices that can directly convert solar energy into electrical power at high temperatures. An analytical model based on a one-dimensional steady-state equation is developed to analyze the temperature-dependent performance of the solid-state [...] Read more.

Solid-state photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) solar energy converters are newly proposed devices that can directly convert solar energy into electrical power at high temperatures. An analytical model based on a one-dimensional steady-state equation is developed to analyze the temperature-dependent performance of the solid-state PETE converter. The treatment used to derive the reverse saturation current density ( $J_0$ ) and open-circuit voltage ( $V_{oc}$ ) of the solid-state PETE converter is similar to that used in photovoltaic cells. Thus, their performances at elevated temperatures can be compared. Analysis results show that $J_0$ of the solid-state PETE converter with a GaAs absorption layer is approximately three orders of magnitude lower, and the decrease rate of open-circuit voltage ( $-d{V}_{oc}/dT$ ) is smaller than that of a practical GaAs photovoltaic cell. The improved performance of the solid-state PETE converter at high temperatures is attributed to the simultaneous use of diffusion and ballistic transport to harvest photo-generated electrons. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that, besides using wide bandgap materials and increasing doping density, harvesting solar energy via PETE effect can effectively improve the performance of solar cells at elevated temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Electrothermal Modeling of Solar Cells and Modules)

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