Spatial and temporal analysis of wind effects on PV module temperature and performance

Numerous models have been developed to predict the power output of photovoltaic (PV) systems as a function of insolation and ambient conditions. However, the effect of wind on module temperature, and hence performance, is only poorly incorporated into these models, and spatially distributed and (fast-varying) transient wind effects have not yet been studied in detail. In this paper, spatial distribution of temperature over a 156 × 156 mm PV mini-module is studied together with fine-time-scale temporal evolution. Tests were performed on a 2 × 3 mini-module mounted in a wind tunnel. Results show that the temperature differences can amount to 21 °C and more, depending on the wind speed and the location on the module. Apart from cooling caused by heat convection, a temperature increase generated by wind friction also occurs at the module's surface although it remains very low compared to the cooling caused by convection.