Numerical Validation of a New Approach to Model Single Junction Low Concentration PV Cells under Non-Uniform Illumination

Energies

Hang Zhou¹  Yuehong Su¹  Michele Bottarelli³  Marco Bortoloni²  Shenyi Wu¹ 

[1] Institute of Sustainable Energy Technology, Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham, University Park NG7 2RD, UK; E-Mails:;Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, Ferrara 44122, Italy; E-Mail:;Department of Architecture, University of Ferrara, Via Quartieri 8, Ferrara 44121, Italy

关键词: single junction PV cell;    CPC;    non-uniform illumination;    finite element modelling (FEM);    array modelling;   

DOI  :  10.3390/en8054529

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This study presents a numerical validation of a new approach to model single junction PV cell under non-uniform illumination for low-concentration solar collectors such as compound parabolic concentrators (CPC). The simulation is achieved by finite element modelling (FEM). To characterize the results, the model is simulated with five different non-uniform illumination profiles. The results indicate that increasing the non-uniformity of concentrated light will introduce more resistive losses and lead to a significant attenuation in the PV cell short-circuit current. The FEM modelling results are then used to validate the array modelling approach, in which a single junction PV cell is considered equivalent to a parallel-connected array of several cell splits. A comparison between the FEM and array modelling approaches shows good agreement. Therefore, the array modelling approach is a fast way to investigate the PV cell performance under non-uniform illumination, while the FEM approach is useful in optimizing design of fingers and bus-bars on a PV.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.