Accounting for Photovoltaic Cell Temperature | Home Power Magazine

http://www.homepower.com/accounting-photovoltaic-cell-temperature

Accounting for Photovoltaic Cell Temperature

During the design phase, you will need to estimate the temperature of the PV modules to determine the temperatureadjusted voltages from the array. The exact values to use will be based on the array location, the proximity of the array to
a structure (such as a roof), and the designers own estimation of ambient temperatures.
For adjusting the arrays Voc value, use the record low temperature as the minimum PV cell temperature. The array will
go to full Voc once the sun strikes the array and before the array has begun to warm up. This is a conservative estimate,
justified because high DC input voltage can damage an inverter.
There is a little more latitude when designing for the Vmp of the arraycomponents wont be damaged, but the inverter
runs the risk of shutting down. Once the PV cells have been sitting in the sun, they will be hotter than the ambient air
temperature. Cell temperature estimation typically relies on using either the highest average temperature or the
record-high temperature in your location.
Another method is to use the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning dry-bulb temperature data
(Appendix E of Expedited Permit Process for PV Systemssee Access). The appendix shows a 2% design
temperature, where the recorded temperature exceeded the listed value 2% of the time, averaged from June through
August. If you use this data, the result is an accurate PV cell temperature estimate for 98% of the summertime
conditions. This is acceptable, considering there will be little time when the array operates at a higher temperature,
which may result in inverter shutdown, but does not result in inverter damage.
The final method is estimating the cell temperature for high ambient-temperature conditions. This considers the ambient
temperature, as well as the PV array mounting method. As with the ambient temperature selection, this is not a set
value but ranges from adding 25C to 35C to the ambient temperature (see String Theory in HP125).
Voltage Correction Example
To help clarify, here are example calculations for adjusting the two module voltages. The example module has the
following specifications:
Voc = 33.6 V
Temperature coefficient for Voc = -0.114 V/C
Vmp = 26.4 V
Temperature coefficient for Vmp = -0.124 V per C
The site has a record cold temperature of -18C, so for adjusting Voc, this temperature will equal cell temperature.

To calculate the adjusted voltage for cold temperatures, use the equation:
Voc at STC + ((Tcell - TSTC) x coeff)) = Max Voc
33.6 V + ((-18C - 25C) x -0.114) = 38.5 V
The 2% summer temperature is 37C and the array is mounted parallel to the roof so the modules high cell temperature
is estimated at 37C + 35C = 72C. To calculate for the adjusted Vmp value in the summer:
Vmp at STC + ((Tcell - TSTC) x coeff)) = Min Vmp
26.4 + ((72C - 25C) x -0.124) = 20.6 V
These new adjusted voltage values can now be used to calculate the minimum and maximum number of modules
required by a particular inverter. For example, if a SMA SB5000US inverter was chosen, the inverter can accept up to
600 VDC and requires at least 250 VDC to operate. Using the example modules:

1 of 2You created this PDF from an application that is not licensed to print to novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)12/05/2016 00:56

Accounting for Photovoltaic Cell Temperature | Home Power Magazine

http://www.homepower.com/accounting-photovoltaic-cell-temperature

600 VDC 38.5 Voc = 15.5 modules, or a maximum string length of 15 modules
250 VDC 20.6 Vmp = 12.1 modules, or a minimum string length of 13 modules
Example ASHRAE 2% Design Temps

Cell Temperature & Inverter Operating Range

2 of 2You created this PDF from an application that is not licensed to print to novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)12/05/2016 00:56