TY - JOUR
T1 - Detailed modeling and numerical analysis of thermo mechanical stresses in the crystalline silicon and thin film PV modules under varying climatic conditions
AU - Limane, Badreddine
AU - Ould-Lahoucine, Cherif
AU - Guenfoud, Salah
AU - Diaf, Said
AU - Laefer, Debra F.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2024/7
Y1 - 2024/7
N2 - The present manuscript provides an in-depth analysis of the modeling and simulation of thermo-mechanical stresses in photovoltaic panels using finite element (FEM) analysis. It covers important aspects such as the choice of the model, including governing equations, boundary conditions, and simplifying assumptions. The study mainly focuses on evaluating the impact of environmental conditions on the thermo-mechanical stresses of first-generation c-Si and second-generation thin-film CdTe and a-Si PV panels in five different climatic zones in Algeria. The proposed transient 3D numerical model is validated against experimental measurements by other researchers and the tabulated values of the nominal operating temperature of the cell (NOCT). The obtained results indicate that the first principle stress for the c-Si cell is lower compared to CdTe and a-Si cells; this can be explained by looking at the thickness, as well as the Young modulus of the solar cell. Consequently, in regions or countries with hot climatic conditions or large temperature gradients, it is recommended to use PV panels based on first-generation c-Si cells with glass-glass as the front and back covers.
AB - The present manuscript provides an in-depth analysis of the modeling and simulation of thermo-mechanical stresses in photovoltaic panels using finite element (FEM) analysis. It covers important aspects such as the choice of the model, including governing equations, boundary conditions, and simplifying assumptions. The study mainly focuses on evaluating the impact of environmental conditions on the thermo-mechanical stresses of first-generation c-Si and second-generation thin-film CdTe and a-Si PV panels in five different climatic zones in Algeria. The proposed transient 3D numerical model is validated against experimental measurements by other researchers and the tabulated values of the nominal operating temperature of the cell (NOCT). The obtained results indicate that the first principle stress for the c-Si cell is lower compared to CdTe and a-Si cells; this can be explained by looking at the thickness, as well as the Young modulus of the solar cell. Consequently, in regions or countries with hot climatic conditions or large temperature gradients, it is recommended to use PV panels based on first-generation c-Si cells with glass-glass as the front and back covers.
KW - Climatic conditions
KW - FEM method
KW - Photovoltaic module
KW - Silicon and thin film solar cells
KW - Thermo mechanical stress
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U2 - 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102625
DO - 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102625
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85194966221
SN - 2451-9049
VL - 52
JO - Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
JF - Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
M1 - 102625
ER -