Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613991719665664 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Willemse, Brendan |
| author2 | Pretorius, Hannes |
| author_browse | Pretorius, Hannes Willemse, Brendan |
| author_facet | Pretorius, Hannes Willemse, Brendan |
| author_sort | Willemse, Brendan |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131971 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:55.985Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131971 Investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays Willemse, Brendan Pretorius, Hannes Owen, Michael Rix, Arnold Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Photovoltaic power systems Finite element method Computational fluid dynamics UCTD Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aimed to simulate the thermal behaviour and performance of floating photovoltaic modules under varying plane-of-array irradiance, wind speed, air temperature, and water temperature conditions. A one-dimensional finite difference method transient model was developed to calculate cell temperature, efficiency, and power output for ground-mounted fixed-tilt, single-axis tracking, and floating photovoltaic configurations. A comprehensive literature review guided the model development, ensuring reliable approximations and identifying areas for improvement. The model is validated against measured data from two test sites—Mariendahl (open-rack) and Marlenique (floating photovoltaic)—utilising CS3W (420W) and CS6U (330W) modules, respec- tively. Validation results demonstrated that the model achieved a root mean square error < 4 °C and a R² of 0.89 for 72048 open-rack fixed-tilt data points. Similar accuracy was achieved for single-axis tracking configurations (9758 data points), with a root mean square error of 3.08 °C and a R² of 0.91. For the floating photovoltaic system (33326 data points), the model predicted tem- peratures with a root mean square error of 4.00 °C and a R² of 0.91 based on a calibrated pontoon temperature of TP = 1.3 · Tₐir. This demonstrates that model predictions are reliable for varying environmental conditions. A sensitiv- ity analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of design parameters (mod- ule tilt angle, module height above water, pontoon surface area, and pontoon emissivity) on floating photovoltaic cell temperatures. The analysis found that pontoon surface area and emissivity affect cell temperature by 0.22 °C per % increase in relative surface area and 0.05 °C/% increase, respectively. Comparisons between floating photovoltaic and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems with the same tilt angle revealed that ground-mounted photovoltaic systems are generally more cost-effective, showing lower operating temperatures and higher efficiencies. This was supported by higher heat dissipation factors for the ground-mounted photovoltaic system, attributable to the pontoon structure impeding effective radiation exchange with the water surface for the floating configuration. Nevertheless, alternative floating photovoltaic designs that enhance module exposure to the water surface demonstrated lower cell temperatures and higher efficiencies, with the no-pontoon design achieving the highest heat dissipation values and module efficiency. Future research should focus on acquiring comprehensive year-round measurement data for floating photovoltaic systems to capture seasonal variations and validate the model’s approximations. Additionally, gathering temperature data for the pontoon surface and exploring different floating photovoltaic construction technologies will provide further insights into the effects of design parameters on floating photovoltaic module temperatures. Improved ground temperature measurements for fixed-tilt and single-axis configurations will also enhance ground-mounted photovoltaic model predictions. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het gefokus om die termiese gedrag en doeltreffendheid van drywende fotovoltaïese-konfigurasies te modeleer vir wisselende vlakte-bestralings, lugtemperatuur, wind spoed en watertemperatuur toestande. ’n Eendimensionele transiënt eindige verskil metode model is ontwikkel om die seltemperatuur, doeltreffendheid en kraguitset vir grond-gemonteerde vaste-hoek, enkel-as en drywende fotovoltaïese-konfigurasies te bereken. ’n Literatuurstudie het die modelontwikkeling gelei, wat betroubare benaderings verseker het en areas vir verbetering geïdentifiseer het. Die model is gevalideer teen meetdata van twee toetsterreine—Mariendahl (ooprak) en Marlenique (drywende fotovoltaïese)— met die gebruik van CS3W (420W) en CS6U (330W) modules, onderskeidelik. Validasie resultate het getoon dat die model ’n wortel gemiddelde kwadraat fout < 4 °C en ’n R2 van 0.89 vir 72048 oop-rak vaste-hoek datapunte bereik het. Vergelykbare akkuraatheid is bereik vir enkele-as konfigurasies (9758 datapunte), met ’n wortel gemiddelde kwadraat fout van 3.08 °C en ’n R2 van 0.91. Vir die drywende fotovoltaïese stelsel (33326 datapunte), het die model temperature met ’n wortel gemiddelde kwadraat fout van 4.00 °C en ’n R2 van 0.91 gebaseer op ’n gekalibreerde pontoon temperatuur van TP = 1.3 · Tair. Dit toon dat modelvoorspellings betroubaar is vir wisselende omgewings toestande. ’n Sensitiwiteitsanalise is uitgevoer om die impak van ontwerpparameters, module-hoek, module hoogte bo water, pontoon oppervlakte area, en pontoon emissiwiteit, op drywende fotovoltaïese seltemperature te evalueer. Die analise het gevind dat pontoon oppervlakte area die seltemperatuur beïnvloed met 0.22 °C per % toename in relatiewe oppervlakte area en vir emissiwiteit ’n 0.05 °C/% toename. Vergelykings tussen drywende fotovoltaïese en grond-gemonteerde fotovoltaïese stelsels met dieselfde hellingshoek het getoon dat grond-gemonteerde fotovoltaïese stelsels oor die algemeen meer koste-effektief is, met laer bedryfstemperature en hoër doeltreffendhede. Dit is ondersteun deur hoër hitte-afvoer faktore vir die grond-gemonteerde fotovoltaïese stelsel, wat toegeskryf word aan die pontoon struktuur wat effektiewe stralingsuitruiling met die watervlak belemmer. Nietemin het alternatiewe drywende fotovoltaïese ontwerpe wat die module blootstelling aan die watervlak verbeter, laer seltemperature en hoër doeltreffendhede gedemonstreer, met die geen-pontoon ontwerp wat die hoogste hitte-afvoer waardes en module doeltreffendheid bereik het. Toekomstige navorsing moet fokus op die verkryging van omvattende jaar-ronde meetdata vir drywende fotovoltaïese stelsels om seisoenale variasies vas te vang en die model se benaderings te valideer. Benewens dit, sal die insameling van temperatuurdata vir die pontoon oppervlakte en die verkenning van verskillende drywende fotovoltaïese konstruksie tegnologieë verdere insigte verskaf in die effekte van ontwerpparameters op drywende fotovoltaïese module temperature. Verbeterde grondtemperatuur metings vir vaste-hoek en enkele-as konfigurasies sal ook die grond-gemonteerde fotovoltaïese model voorspellings verbeter. Masters 2025-05-02T13:32:23Z 2025-05-02T13:32:23Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131971 Stellenbosch University xix, 115 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Photovoltaic power systems Finite element method Computational fluid dynamics UCTD Willemse, Brendan Investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays |
| title | Investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays |
| title_full | Investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays |
| title_short | Investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays |
| title_sort | investigation of module temperatures in floating photovoltaic arrays |
| topic | Photovoltaic power systems Finite element method Computational fluid dynamics UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131971 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT willemsebrendan investigationofmoduletemperaturesinfloatingphotovoltaicarrays |