1. OPERATION OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS IN HOT CLIMATE
References
1. Beat the Heat with Sun Screen Shades, Accent Blinds Company Inc. (2015), viewed June 7, 2016 http://www.accentblinds.ca/beat-the-heat-with-sun-screen-shades/. 2. Monocrystalline Solar Cells: Advantages and Disadvantages, Solar Facts and Advice (2013), viewed June 7, 2016 http://www.solar-facts-and-advice.com/monocrystalline.html
3. Annie Josey (2013) - How to Make a Battery Operated Light Bulb, Pegasus Lighting, viewed June 8, 2016 http://blog.pegasuslighting.com/2013/06/how-to-make-a-battery-operated-light-bulb/. 4. Christiana Honsberg and Stuart Bowden (2000) Degradation and Failure Modes, PVEDUCTATION.ORG, viewed June 10, 2016 http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/
modules/degradation-and-failure-modes
Methodology
 An investigation of the relationship between cell temperature rise and
solder joint damage was carried out.
 Finite Element Model (FEM) of PV Module was created using SolidWorks
Software.
 The model was simulated using ANSYS 15.0 FEM software to generate
maximum creep strain energy density used to quantify solder joint
damage.
 Garofalo creep model was used to simulate the degradation response of
solder while other material responses were modelled using appropriate
models.
 Temperature loads ranging from 25°C to 120°C and appropriate boundary
conditions were implemented in the modelling.
Summary
 Three regions corresponding to three distinct temperature ranges, damage
rates and solder damage/cell temperature relationship were identified.
 Region 2 (43 to 63°C) was observed to possess the highest damage rate at
12.06 Pa/°C hence cell temperatures that fall into this region are identified
as critical to continuous reliable operation of PV modules.
 These findings inform on the degradation of PV solder joints in different
operating temperatures and advise on module operations within the region
for improved PV reliability especially in hot climates.
SUN
HEAT
LIGHT
System Damage
Accelerated damage of PV
solder joints amounts to over
40% of solar panel failures
and failure rates are expected
to increase in elevated
temperature climates where
temperatures rise from
standard cell temperature.
Background
 Photovoltaic (PV) module is known as solar panel. It functions to convert sun-
light into useful electricity and is designed to operate under standard cell
temperature of 25 °C.
 Actual operating cell temperature of solar panels in hot climates can be as
high as 90 °C.
 The solar panels are exposed to both the light and heat energies of the sun.
 The tropical sun supplies excess energies to the panels which results in cell
temperature increase far above the standard cell temperature.
Findings
Rise in cell temperature results in accelerated damage of solder joints in PV
Modules and thus leads to reduced mean time to failure of the PV system.
Relationship between strain energy density and cell temperature showing various damage regions
Region 1 – Quadratic Region (25 to 42°C)
Region 2 – Linear Region (43 to 63°C)
Region 3 – Logarithmic Region (64 to 120°C)
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Osarumen O. Ogbomo*
Supervisory Team: Emeka H. Amalu, N.N Ekere
School of Engineering, University of Wolverhampton
*O.O.Ogbomo@wlv.ac.uk
Research Question
What is the effect of
operations of PV
Module in hot climate
on its performance
System Output
 Solar energy is clean,
sustainable, renewable and
abundant.
 The annual electrical power
consumption of the entire
planet can be generated by
the sun in just ONE hour.
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