Comparison of the photoelectric power by the flexible nonplanar PV modules in different layout and design

The rapid advancement of flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules has broadened their applications, yet limited research has addressed performance variations arising from module layout and design, particularly under dynamic conditions. This study evaluates the photoelectric performance of flexible nonplanar PV modules with various layouts (longitudinal and lateral) and designs (convex and concave) using a self-developed optical-electrical-thermal model validated with experimental data collected under outdoor conditions. The model incorporates beam and diffuse shading ratios to quantify self-shading in concave modules. Experimental results reveal that the convex longitudinal module outperforms others, producing 329.76 Wh at 0° and 268.20 Wh at 90°, despite a lower peak power (31.09 W vs. 40.18 W) under vertical installation. Parametric analysis indicates that power output declines with increasing central angle, with concave longitudinal modules experiencing greater self-shading losses. Orientation changes intensify power losses in lateral layouts due to higher sensitivity to self-shading, while longitudinal layouts exhibit stability but incur greater losses when deviating from due south. Additionally, a redesigned 6 × 6 chip array with series-parallel interconnection is examined. Under widthwise bending, the proposed module exhibits severe mismatch and is unable to generate electricity during the morning and evening hours when solar irradiance distribution is highly non-uniform.