During a post doc research visit of the author at the University of New South Wales in Sydney the upper models were validated experimentally. A BP 255 module was mounted in a thermally insulated way using an elevation angle of 30° towards North (see Fig. 7.23). Natural convection was undisturbed by obstacles. At the backside of the PV module (glass-EVA-Si-EVA-Tedlar® /Polyester/Tedlar® laminate) two Pt100 temperature sensors were attached. Measurement of ambient temperature was carried out with two independent thermometers in the shadow area of the module. Wind speed was measured by a precision air flow meter at the height of the module. Additionally short circuit current, open circuit voltage and the maximum electrical power output have been measured.
Differences between the simulated prediction and the actual measurement data were low for cell temperatures and exceeded a tolerance belt of ±1.5 K only when the actual wind speed was very different from the constant 2 m/s used in the simulation (see Fig. 7.24).
|
Fig. 7.24. Experimental set-up for the validation of the thermal and optimal modeling at a research station of the University of New South Wales at sunrise (Foulders Gap, Australia, 31° S, 140° E). Clearly visible are the high optical losses caused by the reflection of the flat incidence of the direct component of irradiance. |
