3D-thermal modelling of a bifacial agrivoltaic system: a photovoltaic module perspective

• Published in: Energy nexus 2022-03, Vol.5, p.100052, Article 100052
• Main Authors: Johansson, F., Gustafsson, B.E., Stridh, B., Campana, P.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agrivoltaic; Bifacial photovoltaic module; bifacial PV modules; CFD; Computational fluid dynamic; Microclimate; Thermal imaging; Water-food-energy nexus
• ISSN: 2772-4271; 2772-4271
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2022.100052

•A 3D CFD model is built for a vertical bifacial PV module for agrivoltaic systems.•A comparison with a conventionally mounted bifacial PV module is performed.•The 3D model underestimate the thermal camera readings in the order of 3 to 4°C.•The 3D model shows higher accuracy as compared to existing models in literature.•The vertical bifacial PV module shows lower average operating temperatures. This study presents a 3D computational fluid dynamic model to evaluate the temperature distribution and energy performances of a vertical bifacial photovoltaic module for agrivoltaic applications. This last is compared to a conventionally tilted bifacial photovoltaic module for ground-mounted applications. The simulations are performed in SolidWorks Flow Simulation® and validated with measured data gathered from the first experimental agrivoltaic system in Sweden. Additionally, four more simulations scenarios were defined to compare the performances of vertically mounted and conventionally tilted bifacial photovoltaic modules under different operating conditions The validation of the computational fluid dynamic model shows that the model tends to underestimate the readings performed with the thermal camera in the order of 3°C to 4°C for the vertical bifacial PV module. The comparison of the results obtained from the computational fluid dynamic model with existing models available in literature shows a good agreement. The comparison of the heat distribution from the computational fluid dynamic model and the thermal images also shows a good agreement. In all the scenarios investigated, the vertical bifacial photovoltaic module's overall efficiency was higher than that of the ground-mounted module due to lower average operating temperatures. The use of the computational fluid dynamic approach for studying the performance of a single photovoltaic module showed promising results that can be extended to study the system performance and microclimatic conditions. [Display omitted] .