Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Sediments Effect on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Panels
Of the different renewable sources of energy, photovoltaic energy has one of the highest potentials. In recent decades, several technological and research advances have contributed to the consolidation of its potential. One current photovoltaic energy research topic is the analysis of the impact of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/12/4777 |
| _version_ | 1797595029424832512 |
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| author | Bernardo Gonçalves João F. P. Fernandes João Paulo N. Torres Ricardo A. Marques Lameirinhas |
| author_facet | Bernardo Gonçalves João F. P. Fernandes João Paulo N. Torres Ricardo A. Marques Lameirinhas |
| author_sort | Bernardo Gonçalves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Of the different renewable sources of energy, photovoltaic energy has one of the highest potentials. In recent decades, several technological and research advances have contributed to the consolidation of its potential. One current photovoltaic energy research topic is the analysis of the impact of sediments on the panels’ performance. The development of models to predict the performance of panels in the presence of sediments may allow for better decision-making when considering maintenance operations. This work contributed to the investigation of the influence of sand on the production of photovoltaic energy in cadmium telluride (CdTe) panels. Six panels of this type with different colors and transparencies were experimentally tested with and without the presence of sand. The impact of the sand on the cells’ performance was evaluated by analyzing the change in the 1M5P model’s parameters and in the power, efficiency, and fill factors. The experimental results show different negative impacts on the output power of the CdTe panels, from −14% in the orange panel to −36% in the green panel. Based on this study, the development of a model capable of predicting the effect of the sand on these panels was introduced. The developed model was validated experimentally, with a maximum deviation of 4.6%. These results can provide support for the decision-making around maintenance activities and for the development of new techniques to avoid sediment deposition on CdTe panels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:30:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b589cb7431444baa87b672319a5c651 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:30:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b589cb7431444baa87b672319a5c6512023-11-18T10:13:58ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-06-011612477710.3390/en16124777Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Sediments Effect on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic PanelsBernardo Gonçalves0João F. P. Fernandes1João Paulo N. Torres2Ricardo A. Marques Lameirinhas3Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalInstituto de Telecomunicações, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalOf the different renewable sources of energy, photovoltaic energy has one of the highest potentials. In recent decades, several technological and research advances have contributed to the consolidation of its potential. One current photovoltaic energy research topic is the analysis of the impact of sediments on the panels’ performance. The development of models to predict the performance of panels in the presence of sediments may allow for better decision-making when considering maintenance operations. This work contributed to the investigation of the influence of sand on the production of photovoltaic energy in cadmium telluride (CdTe) panels. Six panels of this type with different colors and transparencies were experimentally tested with and without the presence of sand. The impact of the sand on the cells’ performance was evaluated by analyzing the change in the 1M5P model’s parameters and in the power, efficiency, and fill factors. The experimental results show different negative impacts on the output power of the CdTe panels, from −14% in the orange panel to −36% in the green panel. Based on this study, the development of a model capable of predicting the effect of the sand on these panels was introduced. The developed model was validated experimentally, with a maximum deviation of 4.6%. These results can provide support for the decision-making around maintenance activities and for the development of new techniques to avoid sediment deposition on CdTe panels.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/12/47771M5P modelcadmium telluride (CdTe) solar celldust effectphotovoltaic solar cellsolar energy |
| spellingShingle | Bernardo Gonçalves João F. P. Fernandes João Paulo N. Torres Ricardo A. Marques Lameirinhas Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Sediments Effect on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Panels Energies 1M5P model cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cell dust effect photovoltaic solar cell solar energy |
| title | Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Sediments Effect on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Panels |
| title_full | Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Sediments Effect on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Panels |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Sediments Effect on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Panels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Sediments Effect on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Panels |
| title_short | Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Sediments Effect on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Panels |
| title_sort | experimental investigation and modelling of sediments effect on the performance of cadmium telluride photovoltaic panels |
| topic | 1M5P model cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cell dust effect photovoltaic solar cell solar energy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/12/4777 |
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