Viewing convection as a solar farm phenomenon broadens modern power predictions for solar photovoltaics

Heat mitigation for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays is crucial to extend lifetime and energy harvesting capacity. PV module temperature is dependent on site-specific farm geometry, yet common predictions consider panel-scale and environmental factors only. Here, we characterize convective...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of renewable and sustainable energy 2022-11, Vol.14 (6)
Main Authors: Smith, Sarah E., Stanislawski, Brooke J., Eng, Byron Kasey, Ali, Naseem, Silverman, Timothy J, Calaf, Marc, Cal, Raúl Bayoán
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arrays
Convection
Cooling
Energy harvesting
Fluid flow
Height
Photovoltaic cells
Reynolds number
Solar power generation
Temperature dependence
Wind speed
Wind tunnel testing
Wind tunnels
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Summary:Heat mitigation for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays is crucial to extend lifetime and energy harvesting capacity. PV module temperature is dependent on site-specific farm geometry, yet common predictions consider panel-scale and environmental factors only. Here, we characterize convective cooling in diverse PV array designs, capturing combined effects of spatial and atmospheric variation on panel temperature and production. Parameters, including row spacing, panel inclination, module height, and wind velocity, are explored through wind tunnel experiments, high-resolution numerical simulations, and operating field data. A length scale based on fractal lacunarity encapsulates all aspects of arrangement (angle, height, etc.) in a single value. When applied to the Reynolds number Re within the canonical Nusselt number heat transfer correlation, lacunarity reveals a relationship between convection and farm-specific geometry. This correlation can be applied to existing and forthcoming array designs to optimize convective cooling, ultimately increasing production and PV cell life.
ISSN:1941-7012
1941-7012
DOI:10.1063/5.0105649