Photovoltaic module efficiency evaluation: The case of Iraq

Moustafa Al-Damook; Kaleid Waleed  Abid; Asim Mumtaz; Darron Dixon-Hardy; Peter J. Heggs; Mansour Al Qubeissi

doi:10.1016/j.aej.2021.11.046

Photovoltaic module efficiency evaluation: The case of Iraq

Moustafa Al-Damook
, Kaleid Waleed Abid
, Asim Mumtaz
, Darron Dixon-Hardy
, Peter J. Heggs
, Mansour Al Qubeissi

University of Anbar
University of Liverpool
University of Leeds

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

235 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the performance of a photovoltaic module under some extreme climate conditions, and with a case study for Iraq. CFD model is developed for the analysis of the photovoltaic module using the commercial CFD software of COMSOL Multiphysics v5.3a for the transient conditions. The results are verified with the analytical solution to the one-dimensional non-linear energy balance equation using Matlab. The results are also compared with measurements reported in the literature for validation. The results reveal that the free convection currents in inclined and horizontal positions of the module were weaker relative to the vertical position. Also, the increase in the length of inclined photovoltaic module, up to 1.3 m, enhances the heat transfer rate. However, beyond this length, the temperature of the module becomes higher, and the convective heat transfer coefficients are reduced regardless of the inclination. In the horizontal position, the convective heat transfer rate is lower, particularly on the bottom surface of PV system.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	6151-6168
Number of pages	18
Journal	Alexandria Engineering Journal
Volume	61
Issue number	8
Early online date	8 Dec 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2021.11.046
Publication status	Published - Aug 2022

Funder

European Commission - 2020-1-UK01-KA107-078517, KA107

Funding

This work is funded by the Renewable Energy Research Centre, University of Anbar and the Higher Committee for Education Development (HCED), Iraq (M.A-D.), and the British Council – EU Commission joint E + KA107 funding (Grant Ref. 2020-1-UK01-KA107-078517) (M.AQ.).

Funders	Funder number
University of Anbar
European Commission	KA107, 2020-1-UK01-KA107-078517
Higher Committee for Educational Development
British Council

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Photovoltaic
Photovoltaic (PV) energy
PV/T
Conjugate Heat transfer
Heat Transfer
Thermal management
Solar cell
Solar Energy
Solar photovoltaic cell
Solar thermal collector
CFD (computational fluid dynamics)
CFD
CFD model
Experimental evaluation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Mechanical Engineering

Access to Document

10.1016/j.aej.2021.11.046Licence: CC BY

Accepted after-reviewsAccepted author manuscript, 1.32 MB
Al-Damook_et_al_Photovoltaic_moduleFinal published version, 3.08 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{caf074891e66414792f5af02f75693d8,

title = "Photovoltaic module efficiency evaluation: The case of Iraq",

abstract = "This study aims to evaluate the performance of a photovoltaic module under some extreme climate conditions, and with a case study for Iraq. CFD model is developed for the analysis of the photovoltaic module using the commercial CFD software of COMSOL Multiphysics v5.3a for the transient conditions. The results are verified with the analytical solution to the one-dimensional non-linear energy balance equation using Matlab. The results are also compared with measurements reported in the literature for validation. The results reveal that the free convection currents in inclined and horizontal positions of the module were weaker relative to the vertical position. Also, the increase in the length of inclined photovoltaic module, up to 1.3 m, enhances the heat transfer rate. However, beyond this length, the temperature of the module becomes higher, and the convective heat transfer coefficients are reduced regardless of the inclination. In the horizontal position, the convective heat transfer rate is lower, particularly on the bottom surface of PV system.",

keywords = "Photovoltaic, Photovoltaic (PV) energy, PV/T, Conjugate Heat transfer, Heat Transfer, Thermal management, Solar cell, Solar Energy, Solar photovoltaic cell, Solar thermal collector, CFD (computational fluid dynamics), CFD, CFD model, Experimental evaluation",

author = "Moustafa Al-Damook and Abid, \{Kaleid Waleed\} and Asim Mumtaz and Darron Dixon-Hardy and Heggs, \{Peter J.\} and \{Al Qubeissi\}, Mansour",

year = "2022",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.aej.2021.11.046",

language = "English",

volume = "61",

pages = "6151--6168",

journal = "Alexandria Engineering Journal",

issn = "1110-0168",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

number = "8",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Photovoltaic module efficiency evaluation

T2 - The case of Iraq

AU - Al-Damook, Moustafa

AU - Abid, Kaleid Waleed

AU - Mumtaz, Asim

AU - Dixon-Hardy, Darron

AU - Heggs, Peter J.

AU - Al Qubeissi, Mansour

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - This study aims to evaluate the performance of a photovoltaic module under some extreme climate conditions, and with a case study for Iraq. CFD model is developed for the analysis of the photovoltaic module using the commercial CFD software of COMSOL Multiphysics v5.3a for the transient conditions. The results are verified with the analytical solution to the one-dimensional non-linear energy balance equation using Matlab. The results are also compared with measurements reported in the literature for validation. The results reveal that the free convection currents in inclined and horizontal positions of the module were weaker relative to the vertical position. Also, the increase in the length of inclined photovoltaic module, up to 1.3 m, enhances the heat transfer rate. However, beyond this length, the temperature of the module becomes higher, and the convective heat transfer coefficients are reduced regardless of the inclination. In the horizontal position, the convective heat transfer rate is lower, particularly on the bottom surface of PV system.

AB - This study aims to evaluate the performance of a photovoltaic module under some extreme climate conditions, and with a case study for Iraq. CFD model is developed for the analysis of the photovoltaic module using the commercial CFD software of COMSOL Multiphysics v5.3a for the transient conditions. The results are verified with the analytical solution to the one-dimensional non-linear energy balance equation using Matlab. The results are also compared with measurements reported in the literature for validation. The results reveal that the free convection currents in inclined and horizontal positions of the module were weaker relative to the vertical position. Also, the increase in the length of inclined photovoltaic module, up to 1.3 m, enhances the heat transfer rate. However, beyond this length, the temperature of the module becomes higher, and the convective heat transfer coefficients are reduced regardless of the inclination. In the horizontal position, the convective heat transfer rate is lower, particularly on the bottom surface of PV system.

KW - Photovoltaic

KW - Photovoltaic (PV) energy

KW - PV/T

KW - Conjugate Heat transfer

KW - Heat Transfer

KW - Thermal management

KW - Solar cell

KW - Solar Energy

KW - Solar photovoltaic cell

KW - Solar thermal collector

KW - CFD (computational fluid dynamics)

KW - CFD

KW - CFD model

KW - Experimental evaluation

U2 - 10.1016/j.aej.2021.11.046

DO - 10.1016/j.aej.2021.11.046

M3 - Article

SN - 1110-0168

VL - 61

SP - 6151

EP - 6168

JO - Alexandria Engineering Journal

JF - Alexandria Engineering Journal

IS - 8

ER -

Photovoltaic module efficiency evaluation: The case of Iraq

Abstract

Funder

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this