Three Dimensional Transient Numerical Modeling of Temperature Distribution and Output Power in Photovoltaic Module

Due to the effect of temperature on the output power of a photovoltaic module, this research tries to calculate temperature distribution in a photovoltaic module by numerical solving of the energy balance equations. Therefore, its output power can be accurately predicted. For this purpose, several photovoltaic modules are modeled in detail in the COMSOL software. A new method for calculating power output, as a function of the PV modules temperature, has also been presented to solve it using thermal equations simultaneously. Different layers of PV module are considered separately in the present three dimensional and transient models. The effect of different correlations for heat convection in the temperature distribution and output power has also been studied. Results show that the aforementioned features end in an accurate prediction of temperature distribution and, thus, of the performance of the PV module.