Thermal Model to Quantify the Impact of Sub-Bandgap Reflectance on Operating Temperature of Fielded PV Modules

Michael Deceglie; Jonathan Bryan; Timothy Silverman; Zachary Holman

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2021.03.045

Thermal Model to Quantify the Impact of Sub-Bandgap Reflectance on Operating Temperature of Fielded PV Modules

Michael Deceglie, Jonathan Bryan, Timothy Silverman, Zachary Holman

Materials Science

Arizona State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Minimizing module heating is an effective way to increase the lifetime energy output of photovoltaic systems. Maximizing the reflection of light that is unusable for energy conversion is one of the most promising ways to reduce the operating temperature of fielded modules. We derive a model based on a steady-state energy balance to quantify the temperature benefit of cell or module optical modifications aimed at improving reflection of light with photon energies below the photovoltaic cell bandgap energy. This more detailed model is then simplified so that, from outdoor measured data, temperature differences arising from reflectance can be isolated from those arising from irradiance, wind speed, and module standard-test-condition efficiency.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	246-250
Number of pages	5
Journal	Solar Energy
Volume	220
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.03.045 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.03.045
State	Published - 15 May 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 International Solar Energy Society

NREL Publication Number

NREL/JA-5K00-78899

Keywords

Photovoltaic module degradation
Rear reflector
Silicon photovoltaic module
Sub-bandgap reflectance
Thermal management

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

Cite this

@article{ff492f77bb434d209ee39aad2fb4c34b,

title = "Thermal Model to Quantify the Impact of Sub-Bandgap Reflectance on Operating Temperature of Fielded PV Modules",

abstract = "Minimizing module heating is an effective way to increase the lifetime energy output of photovoltaic systems. Maximizing the reflection of light that is unusable for energy conversion is one of the most promising ways to reduce the operating temperature of fielded modules. We derive a model based on a steady-state energy balance to quantify the temperature benefit of cell or module optical modifications aimed at improving reflection of light with photon energies below the photovoltaic cell bandgap energy. This more detailed model is then simplified so that, from outdoor measured data, temperature differences arising from reflectance can be isolated from those arising from irradiance, wind speed, and module standard-test-condition efficiency.",

keywords = "Photovoltaic module degradation, Rear reflector, Silicon photovoltaic module, Sub-bandgap reflectance, Thermal management",

author = "Michael Deceglie and Jonathan Bryan and Timothy Silverman and Zachary Holman",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 International Solar Energy Society",

year = "2021",

month = may,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.solener.2021.03.045",

language = "American English",

volume = "220",

pages = "246--250",

journal = "Solar Energy",

issn = "0038-092X",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Thermal Model to Quantify the Impact of Sub-Bandgap Reflectance on Operating Temperature of Fielded PV Modules

AU - Deceglie, Michael

AU - Bryan, Jonathan

AU - Silverman, Timothy

AU - Holman, Zachary

PY - 2021/5/15

Y1 - 2021/5/15

N2 - Minimizing module heating is an effective way to increase the lifetime energy output of photovoltaic systems. Maximizing the reflection of light that is unusable for energy conversion is one of the most promising ways to reduce the operating temperature of fielded modules. We derive a model based on a steady-state energy balance to quantify the temperature benefit of cell or module optical modifications aimed at improving reflection of light with photon energies below the photovoltaic cell bandgap energy. This more detailed model is then simplified so that, from outdoor measured data, temperature differences arising from reflectance can be isolated from those arising from irradiance, wind speed, and module standard-test-condition efficiency.

AB - Minimizing module heating is an effective way to increase the lifetime energy output of photovoltaic systems. Maximizing the reflection of light that is unusable for energy conversion is one of the most promising ways to reduce the operating temperature of fielded modules. We derive a model based on a steady-state energy balance to quantify the temperature benefit of cell or module optical modifications aimed at improving reflection of light with photon energies below the photovoltaic cell bandgap energy. This more detailed model is then simplified so that, from outdoor measured data, temperature differences arising from reflectance can be isolated from those arising from irradiance, wind speed, and module standard-test-condition efficiency.

KW - Photovoltaic module degradation

KW - Rear reflector

KW - Silicon photovoltaic module

KW - Sub-bandgap reflectance

KW - Thermal management

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103647917&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.solener.2021.03.045

DO - 10.1016/j.solener.2021.03.045

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85103647917

SN - 0038-092X

VL - 220

SP - 246

EP - 250

JO - Solar Energy

JF - Solar Energy

ER -

Thermal Model to Quantify the Impact of Sub-Bandgap Reflectance on Operating Temperature of Fielded PV Modules

Abstract

Bibliographical note

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this