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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

International Heat Transfer Conference 12
August, 18-23, 2002, Grenoble, France

Modeling of the thermal behavior of a photovoltaic module

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC12.240
6 pages

Résumé

The objective of the work presented in this article is to develop an accurate numerical model of the thermal behavior of a photovoltaic (PV) module. The electrical efficiency of photovoltaic cells is strongly related to the rate of radiation which reaches the layers of silicon after transmission through the protection layers. The temperature level reached by the photosensitive material is also a considerable factor of cell efficiency. In order to evaluate the influence of specific factors (state of surfaces, materials and thickness) on temperatures and thermal fluxes reached in the neighborhood of silicon, this article describes the development of a numerical model of a semi-transparent multi-layer component.
This type of three-dimensional multi-layer (five layers) configuration, submitted to variable climatic conditions, involves heat transfers with its environment. In order to simplify the complex problem of modeling the coupled heat transfer (conduction-radiation) we assume a one-dimensional planar geometry. In the majority of previous multi-layer investigations radiative heat transfer has been analyzed for two-slab systems. It has been shown that the results obtained by using the spherical harmonic method is not expensive in computational time while preserving a satisfying accuracy for non-scattering media. The results are compared with single-layer and the two-layer results reported in the literature. A real case is also considered in order to determine the thermal response of components materials of PV module.
Therefore, the main purpose of this thermal analysis is to derive design criteria of component materials required to maximize the rate of solar irradiance while minimizing the cell operating temperature.