IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v146y2020icp1292-1300.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multiscale prediction of localized hot-spot phenomena in solar cells

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Ao
  • Xuan, Yimin

Abstract

Hot-spot phenomena in photovoltaic (PV) devices may suppress the performance and cause irresistible damage. Traditional study focuses on hot spots caused by shade or faults of PV modules, discussing the systematic failure. Different from that, this study focuses on hot-spot phenomena due to nonuniform heat generation within a unit cell of the module, which is resulted from surface microstructures, locally enhanced absorption and uneven concentration of light. In this paper, the volume heat generation in a cell is derived by modeling interactions between photons, excited free electrons and lattice phonons. And significant unevenness of heat generation is found. Based on the 3D heat distribution, transient simulations of cell temperature are conducted. Although hot-spot phenomena are negligible in non-concentrated PV cells, in a 400 × (1000 × ) high concentrator photovoltaic(HCPV) cell, remarkable hot spot is found with maximum temperature difference of 68K(169K) and the local hottest spot reaches 372K(491K). More seriously, in cloudy or windy days, cells may be shaded constantly, leading to sharp and constant temperature variation at the hot spot area in tens of microseconds. All these results creatively reveal that localized hot-spot phenomena within a cell may significantly suppress the cell performance and shorten the lifespan.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Ao & Xuan, Yimin, 2020. "Multiscale prediction of localized hot-spot phenomena in solar cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1292-1300.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:146:y:2020:i:c:p:1292-1300
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.07.073
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148119310936
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2019.07.073?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xing, Yupeng & Zhang, Kailiang & Zhao, Jinshi & Han, Peide, 2016. "Thermal and electrical performance analysis of silicon vertical multi-junction solar cell under non-uniform illumination," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 77-82.
    2. Wang, Ao & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "A detailed study on loss processes in solar cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 490-500.
    3. Li, Dianhong & Xuan, Yimin & Li, Qiang & Hong, Hui, 2017. "Exergy and energy analysis of photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 343-351.
    4. Li, Dianhong & Xuan, Yimin & Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang, 2018. "Conversion efficiency gain for concentrated triple-junction solar cell system through thermal management," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 960-968.
    5. Alkaya, A. & Kaplan, R. & Canbolat, H. & Hegedus, S.S., 2009. "A comparison of fill factor and recombination losses in amorphous silicon solar cells on ZnO and SnO2," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1595-1599.
    6. Li, Guiqiang & Shittu, Samson & Diallo, Thierno M.O. & Yu, Min & Zhao, Xudong & Ji, Jie, 2018. "A review of solar photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system for electricity generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 41-58.
    7. Baig, Hasan & Heasman, Keith C. & Mallick, Tapas K., 2012. "Non-uniform illumination in concentrating solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 5890-5909.
    8. Kerzmann, Tony & Schaefer, Laura, 2012. "System simulation of a linear concentrating photovoltaic system with an active cooling system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 254-261.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Pan, Xinyu & Ju, Xing & Yuan, Mengdi & Xu, Chao & Du, Xiaoze, 2023. "Energy tracing of solar cells for spectral-beam-splitting photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 345(C).
    2. Zhang, J.J. & Qu, Z.G. & Zhang, J.F., 2022. "Diode model of nonuniform irradiation treatment to predict multiscale solar-electrical conversion for the concentrating plasmonic photovoltaic system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    3. Zhang, J.J. & Qu, Z.G. & Zhang, J.F., 2022. "MCRT-FDTD investigation of the solar-plasmonic-electrical conversion for uniform irradiation in a spectral splitting CPVT system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2020. "Feasibility analysis of a tandem photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system under solar concentration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1828-1841.
    2. Li, Guiqiang & Xuan, Qingdong & Pei, Gang & Su, Yuehong & Ji, Jie, 2018. "Effect of non-uniform illumination and temperature distribution on concentrating solar cell - A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1119-1136.
    3. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Akhlaghi, Yousef Golizadeh & Ma, Xiaoli & Zhao, Xudong & Ayodele, Emmanuel, 2019. "Advancements in thermoelectric generators for enhanced hybrid photovoltaic system performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 24-54.
    4. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2019. "Feasibility analysis of a concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric-thermal cogeneration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 560-573.
    5. Ge, Minghui & Zhao, Yuntong & Li, Yanzhe & He, Wei & Xie, Liyao & Zhao, Yulong, 2022. "Structural optimization of thermoelectric modules in a concentration photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PB).
    6. Rodrigo, P.M. & Valera, A. & Fernández, E.F. & Almonacid, F.M., 2019. "Performance and economic limits of passively cooled hybrid thermoelectric generator-concentrator photovoltaic modules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1150-1162.
    7. Ko, Jinyoung & Jeong, Jae-Weon, 2021. "Annual performance evaluation of thermoelectric generator-assisted building-integrated photovoltaic system with phase change material," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    8. Sharaf, Omar Z. & Orhan, Mehmet F., 2015. "Concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) solar collector systems: Part II – Implemented systems, performance assessment, and future directions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1566-1633.
    9. Lorenzi, Bruno & Mariani, Paolo & Reale, Andrea & Di Carlo, Aldo & Chen, Gang & Narducci, Dario, 2021. "Practical development of efficient thermoelectric – Photovoltaic hybrid systems based on wide-gap solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    10. Baig, Hasan & Sarmah, Nabin & Chemisana, Daniel & Rosell, Joan & Mallick, Tapas K., 2014. "Enhancing performance of a linear dielectric based concentrating photovoltaic system using a reflective film along the edge," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 177-191.
    11. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "Optimal design method for concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 320-329.
    12. Abotaleb, A. & Abdallah, A., 2018. "Performance of bifacial-silicon heterojunction modules under desert environment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 94-101.
    13. Sahoo, Rashmi Rekha & Karana, Dhruv Raj, 2020. "Effect of design shape factor on exergonic performance of a new modified extended-tapering segmented thermoelectric generator system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    14. Md Maruf Hossain Shuvo & Twisha Titirsha & Nazmul Amin & Syed Kamrul Islam, 2022. "Energy Harvesting in Implantable and Wearable Medical Devices for Enduring Precision Healthcare," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-50, October.
    15. Yadav, Pankaj & Tripathi, Brijesh & Rathod, Siddharth & Kumar, Manoj, 2013. "Real-time analysis of low-concentration photovoltaic systems: A review towards development of sustainable energy technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 812-823.
    16. Karolina Papis-Frączek & Krzysztof Sornek, 2022. "A Review on Heat Extraction Devices for CPVT Systems with Active Liquid Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-49, August.
    17. Wang, Yangjie & Li, Qiang & Li, Dianhong & Hong, Hui, 2018. "Thermodynamic analysis for a concentrating photovoltaic-photothermochemical hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 528-536.
    18. Ustaoglu, Abid & Ozbey, Umut & Torlaklı, Hande, 2020. "Numerical investigation of concentrating photovoltaic/thermal (CPV/T) system using compound hyperbolic –trumpet, V-trough and compound parabolic concentrators," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 1192-1208.
    19. Shen, Lu & Li, Zhenpeng & Ma, Tao, 2020. "Analysis of the power loss and quantification of the energy distribution in PV module," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    20. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Xuan, Qindong & Zhao, Xudong & Ma, Xiaoli & Cui, Yu, 2020. "Electrical and mechanical analysis of a segmented solar thermoelectric generator under non-uniform heat flux," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:146:y:2020:i:c:p:1292-1300. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.