Estudo do efeito da temperatura no rendimento das células solares

Abstract

Solar cells are semiconductor devices that convert the electromagnetic energy of sunlight into electrical energy, they are therefore the basic units of photovoltaic systems for converting solar radiation into electricity. In recent years, obtaining electrical energy from sunlight, using solar cells, has become more prominent among energy production technologies. This fact is associated with the understanding of the universal dimension of the problems arising and the use of fuels to obtain energy, namely the cleaning of existing fuel reserves and the pollution of the environment that is associated with them. Several research, development and demonstration (ID&D) programs have already been established in several countries around the world, with a view to improving technical aspects, reducing the production costs of materials (which are still quite high) and promoting the use of photovoltaic technology. The main objective advocated by these programs is to make the systems competitive with conventional systems, even in the production of energy on a large scale. Given that photovoltaic systems work outdoors and, therefore, subject to the environmental conditions of the place where they are installed, one of the lines of investigation of the characteristics of photovoltaic devices is the study of the effect of environmental conditions on their properties. In particular, it is intended to know the effect of environmental parameters (irradiance, temperature, wind speed, air humidity) on the efficiency of the conversion devices (cells, modules and solar panels). In this work, the effect of temperature on the performance of solar panels, under local conditions, is discussed. The study was carried out on the solar panel of the water pumping photovoltaic system, installed in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering (university campus), within the framework of the research project on photovoltaic solar energy, underway at the Department of Physics at Eduardo Mondlane University, in Maputo, Mozambique. The panel consists of 16 SIEMENS M55 modules, each with 36 pseudo-square solar cells of electrical grade monocrystalline silicon (CzSi), occupying an area of ​​6.25 m2. The systems and environmental conditions were monitored, measuring irradiance, temperature, wind speed, voltage and electric current. Based on the statistical analysis of the experimental data obtained, it is shown that the panel's performance decreased with increasing temperature.