Optimization of Back Reflectors for Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules

• Other Authors: MARTIN, PEDRO JESSE (Author)
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Mechanical engineering; Sustainability; Energy; Back Reflectors; Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules; inverted reflector; Optimization of Back Reflectors
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.53954

abstract: Demand for green energy alternatives to provide stable and reliable energy solutions has increased over the years which has led to the rapid expansion of global markets in renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. Newest amongst these technologies is the Bifacial PV modules, which harvests incident radiation from both sides of the module. The overall power generation can be significantly increased by using these bifacial modules. The purpose of this research is to investigate and maximize the effect of back reflectors, designed to increase the efficiency of the module by utilizing the intercell light passing through the module to increase the incident irradiance, on the energy output using different profiles placed at varied distances from the plane of the array (POA). The optimum reflector profile and displacement of the reflector from the module are determined experimentally. Theoretically, a 60-cell bifacial module can produce 26% additional energy in comparison to a 48-cell bifacial module due to the 12 excess cells found in the 60-cell module. It was determined that bifacial modules have the capacity to produce additional energy when optimized back reflectors are utilized. The inverted U reflector produced higher energy gain when placed at farther distances from the module, indicating direct dependent proportionality between the placement distance of the reflector from the module and the output energy gain. It performed the best out of all current construction geometries with reflective coatings, generating more than half of the additional energy produced by a densely-spaced 60-cell benchmark module compared to a sparsely-spaced 48-cell reference module.ii A gain of 11 and 14% was recorded on cloudy and sunny days respectively for the inverted U reflector. This implies a reduction in the additional cells of the 60-cell module by 50% can produce the same amount of energy of the 60-cell module by a 48-cell module with an inverted U reflector. The use of the back reflectors does not only affect the additional energy gain but structural and land costs. Row to row spacing for bifacial systems(arrays) is reduced nearly by half as the ground height clearance is largely minimized, thus almost 50% of height constraints for mounting bifacial modules, using back reflectors resulting in reduced structural costs for mounting of bifacial modules === Dissertation/Thesis === Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2019