Performance of different photovoltaic cells operating under the meteorological conditions of Singapore

• Main Authors: Hawlader, Mohammad Nurul Alam, Lee, Poh Seng, Chua, Kok Kiang
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: IIUM Press 2011
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/20091/1/performance_of_different_-_C31.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/20091/; http://rms.research.iium.edu.my/bookstore/default.aspx
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Three different types of photovoltaic solar cells were installed and connected in grid-tie inverters to run a blower or pump under the meteorological conditions of Singapore. Experiments were performed over a period of time, where all three types of cel1s, each type having a rated power of 360W, were exposed to same enviromental conditions. For a day with a maximum irradiation of about 760Wm-2, analyses of data to determine the performance of solar cel1s revealed an average efficiency of mono crystalline, poly crystal1ine and tandem cells of about 10.4%,9.5% and 8.8%, respectively. The maximum efficiencies recorded were 14.5% for mono-crystalline, 13.5% for polycryslalline and 11% for tandem cells. Although tandem cel1 has the lowest average efficiency, it shows the highest Solar Fraction (SF) compared to mono and poly crystal1ine cel1s. The electricity production of mono crystalline, poly crystalline and tandem cell for 30 consecutive days shows that tandem cell has the highest production with an average value of 1.7KWh. The total production of mono and poly crystalline cel1 is approximately the same. Both of them have the average daily value of about 1.5 kWh. On a day, with irradiation of about 760Wm-2 and without any cooling, the surface temperature of mono-crystalline, poly-crystalline and tandem cel1 were 59'C, 58.4°C and 57.7°C, respectively. On the other hand, the surface temperature has only reached 35.5°C. 35.1'C. 33.6°c, respectively, when the first data was recorded in the early morning, when the irradiation was about 450Wm-2. As the efficiency of the cell is dependent upon operating temperature, appropriate measures should be undertaken to maintain low operating temperature. particularly. when the irradiation is high.