An Enhancement in Electrical Efficiency of

Photovoltaic Module

Subhash Chandra Sanjay Agrawal D.S Chauhan C.S.Rajoria

GLA University Mathura, SOET IGNOU, New Delhi, GLA University Mathura, Government Engineering College Bikaner
India India India India
subhash.chandra@gla.ac.in sanjay.agrawal@ignou.ac.in vc@gla.ac.in Shakes2001@gmail.com

Abstract— Energy is considered as a prime agent in the The backbone of Indian power sector is coal, which
generation of wealth and a significant factor in the economic contributes in maximum power generation. India has huge
development. The development scale of any country is potential for renewable energy, aiming high in this area with
measured by few parameters among which per capita energy a target to reach 175 GW installed renewable capacity by
consumption holds the most significant. With the depletion of
2022.Solar energy is the key to support the government’s
nonrenewable energy resources and growing environmental
concerns, it is expected that solar energy i.e. a renewable expansion plan [1] . Figure 1 shows state wise target of
energy source is going to play a very significant role in the harnessing electrical energy from solar energy and Figure 2
future. Over the last three decades, a significant research on shows year wise target to achieve electrical enegry form PV.
photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and modules has been carried out. Indian government has year wise and state wise target to
Today, the electricity conversion efficiency of a silicon solar 100 GW from solar, out of which 40 GW form building
module available under standard test condition (I(t)=1000 integrated photovoltaic systems by 2022. [2].
W/m2& Ta = 25 0C) for commercial application is about 12 %.
More than 75% of the incoming solar energy is either reflected
or converted into heat energy. The abundant solar energy
obtained from solar radiation can be utilized in the form of
either thermal energy or electrical energy (DC) using Maharastra
photovoltaic (PV) modules. The efficiency of the PV system is
more sensitive to the operating temperature. The higher the
operating temperature, lower is the electrical efficiency and
Uttarprades
vice-versa. The operating temperature of PV systems can be h
lowered by withdrawing/utilizing the thermal energy Tamilnadu
associated with it. The thermal energy associated with the PV
module can be carried away by flowing air below it. This type
of system is known as hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT)
Gujrat
system. The hybrid PVT system allows the enhancement of the
electrical performance of PV by removing thermal energy and
subsequently decreasing the operating temperature.
Fig.1: state wise target
Standalone Photo voltaic (SPV) systems has less electrical
efficiency hence long payback period is observed. The
parameter performance ratio is usually employed for 10000
performance of SPV systems. This paper illustrates that both 9000
types of energy are generated and by utilizing both types of 8000
7000
energy, payback period can be reduced hence performance is
6000
improved. SPV system is mounted on roof of administrative
5000
building of University. It has been observed improvement in 4000
average electrical efficiency is 7.02%. 3000
2000
Keywords—PV module, energy ,performance, Rooftop. 1000
0
I INTRODUCTION
The consumption of energy is increasing day by day due
to high demand . India’s energy consumption has almost
doubled since 2000 and the potential for further rapid
growth is enormous.75% demand of Indian energy is met by
fossil fuels the energy sector for 1.3 billion people is
expanding quickly. Indians use solid biomass for cooking. Fig. 2: Year wise targets (MW)

978-1-4673-8962-4/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE

Solar radiation can be converted into electrical energy or in The study has been carried out to observe the effect of
thermal energy with the help solar photovoltaic systems temperature on electrical output power and thermal energy
(SPV) or solar thermal systems. Building integrated SPV generated by analysis of SPV system in campus of GLA
systems may be grid connected or standalones. In India University, Mathura , UP (27.4924° N, 77.6737° E) as
since most of the roofs are flat so flat roof mounted SPV shown in Figure 3.
systems are preferred. Performance measurement is an
important component for system owner, financial partner or
O&M provider. In order to analyze the performance,
performance ratio (PR) is better term than capacity
utilization factor (CUF).Various factors are there, due to
which CUF does not suit for SPV systems which are as
follows:

(i) SPV systems work during the day time only.

(ii) Unpredictable nature of solar radiation.

(iii) SPV output also depends on temperature.

On the other side PR take in to account the climate

conditions. It depends on following environmental factors

(a) PV module temperature

(b) Solar radiation

(c) PV modules shaded or soiled. [3] Fig. 3: Stand alone PV system

ℎ
PR= ℎ 2×
2 ×

II METHOD
Performance ratio is the ratio of the Energy measured in
kWh(AC) to energy expected kwh(DC) , which is Firstly, ambient temperature and temperature of back side
significantly affected by cell temperature. A stand alone of PV module has been measured with mini solar power
system requires storage battery for cloudy days and night, plant kit. Although this method is less accurate [6]. Stand
but its operation is easy in comparison to grid connected alone photovoltaic system of total power 50 KW is installed
system. The stand-alone systems are mounted on the roof of at the roof of University administrative building. Here, only
buildings. These systems met the demand of the energy in study on single module has been carried out. Detailed
buildings without emitting carbon and other harmful gases specifications of PV module are given in Table 1.
in the atmosphere. Also, SPV systems do not have any
moving part; hence a little maintenance is required. Table I : Specification of PV module
Although the use of stand-alone system is increasing
drastically in India, however it’s low efficiency and long S.Number Parameters value
payback period makes it less popular. The performance of
SPV systems can be analyzed from energy and exergy 1 Module Type polycrystalline
analysis also. The laws of thermodynamics can be applied to
evaluate the thermal energy produced by the system [4]. 2 Peak Power 300W

Many researchers have been evaluated the performance of 3 Open circuit voltage 45.35 V
the SPV system by energy and exergy analysis. The I-V
characteristic of the solar cell shows that maximum 4 Short circuit current 8.93 A
electrical output power decreases with increase in cell
5 Maximum power voltage 35.87 V
temperature. The heat produced, can be extracted by
transpiring the solar collector and utilized for swimming 6 Maximum power current 8.36 A
pool, space heating, domestic water heating and dryer for
medicinal plant etc. In this way, with the use of both types 7 Area 2007x 991 mm2
of energy, the overall efficiency of system can be improved;
hence payback period may be reduced [5]. 8 Nominal operating cell 470c
Temperature
The material used in module is polycrystalline. Figure 3
shows the SPV stand alone system installed at
administrative building of university campus.
Temperature dependent electrical efficiency is given by
W/m2 and in BTU also. It is high precision equipment and
its operating temperature ranges between 50c to 400c. The
instrument operates with a 9 volt battery and below 2000
meter altitude. Its dimensions and weight are 143(l) x 74(w)
x 34(h) mm, and 250 g respectively

= [1 − ( − )] (1)

Where no- Reference efficiency

Power temperature coefficient.

− is Difference of cell temperature and ambient

temp. [9].

The increased cell temperature reduces the electrical output

and increases the risk of the damage of solar cell. This heat
can be utilized by combining a collector at the back side of
the module. Thermal exergy equation is given by (2) [8] Fig. 4(a): Solar power meter

A prototype of mini solar power plant kit (Figure 4b) has

ℎ = 1−
Where
T0 is ambient temperature
T cell is cell temperature,
[ − ] (2)
been used to measure the temperature, output voltage and
current. Although the setup can also be used for measuring
the shading effect, maximum power point finding, DC to
AC conversion and performance analysis of solar
Photovoltaic systems.

A is the area of PV module

Ka heat transfer coefficient.

Heat transfer coefficient can be calculated by (3) [8]

= 5.7 + 3.8 (3)

Where

Ws is the wind speed.

The expression for PV cell temperature is (4) [9] Fig. 4(b) prototype for temperature
−20
= + (4) This angle finder (Figure 4c) having magnetic base which is
0.8 1000
easy to use. It measures angles accurately and quickly from
Where 0- 90 degrees in any quadrant. It has accuracy within ½ of
10. By this instrument, latitude can be measured.
T0 is ambient temperature

Tn is nominal operating cell temperature

I is solar radiation.

Nominal operating cell temperature is given by

manufacturer. Performance ratio can be calculated with
temperature compensation and without temperature
compensation. PR on hourly basis is less accurate than PR
annual basis [10].

III INSTRUMENTS USED

Fig. 4(c): Angle finder
Solar power meter (Figure 4a), model number TM -207 has
been used to measure the radiation. It indicates the range in
 IV RESULT Solar cell temperature is calculated from measured ambient
temperature with help of Equation 4 Variation of solar cell
Solar radiation has been measured for one day in the month and ambient temperature has been shown in Figure 7.
of February 2016, It can be observed that solar radiation is Variation of electrical efficiency and solar cell temperature
maximum during noon time as shown in Figure 5. with respect to time has been shown in Figure 8. It can be
observed that electrical efficiency of solar cell decreases
1000 with increase in solar cell temperature and vice versa.
900 Increased temperature of solar cell generates heat and
800 decreases the power, this generated heat can be collected by
connecting a solar thermal collector at the back side of the
Radiation (W/m2)

700
PV module. This will lower the temperature of the module
600
and enhanced electrical efficiency can be achieved.
500 Generated thermal energy can also be used for space
400 heating, water heating, medicinal drying etc.
300
200
60 Ta 0.1370
100
Tc 0.1360
0 50

Temperature (deg cent)

Eff 0.1350
10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

18:00
9:00

40 0.1340

Efficiency
0.1330
Time 30 0.1320
Fig. 5: Variation in solar radiation with respect to time 0.1310
20 0.1300
Variation in wind speed with respect to time has been 0.1290
10
shown in Figure 6. Wind speed also plays very important 0.1280
role in harnessing electrical output power as well as 0 0.1270
thermal output. .
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
1.6
1.4
Time
Wind Speed (m/s)

1.2
1
0.8 Fig. 8: Variation of electrical Efficiency with solar cell
0.6 temperature
0.4
0.2
0
400
9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

Exe
350
Time 300 Ex thermal
Exergy (Wh)

250
Fig. 6: Variation in wind speed with respect to time. 200
150
100
60 50
Temperature (deg cent)

To
50 0
Tcell
40
9:00

16:00
10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

17:00

18:00

30
Time
20
10
0
Fig. 9: Hourly Exergy variation in the month of February
9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

18:00

Time Variation of exergy with respect to time is shown in Figure

9. It is to be noted that total electrical exergy is 1.593
kWh/day and thermal exergy is 2.232 kWh/day. The
Fig. 7: Ambient temperature and cell temperature conversion factor .38 is taken to convert thermal exergy in
to electrical exergy. Thus an overall electrical exergy is Exergy analysis is important for improving the
2.441kwh/day. Improved electrical efficiency is plotted in efficiency of the system
figure 10 by converting thermal equivalent in to electrical. 3. Payback period can be reduced by increasing the
It has been observed improvement in average electrical electrical efficiency.
efficiency is 7.02%. 4. Overall efficiency of PV module is improved by
harnessing both electrical and thermal energy.
0.22

0.2 REFERENCES

[1]Fatih Birol (2015),India Energy Outlook :World Energy

0.18
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0.16
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[4]S. Agrawal, and G.N. Tiwari, "Energy and exergy analysis of

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0.1
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11:00

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13:00

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17:00

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