Methodology for the characterization of the humidity behavior inside CPV modules

Carmine Cancro; Gabriele Ciniglio; Luigi Mongibello; Antonino Pontecorvo; Carmine Cancro; Gabriele Ciniglio; Luigi Mongibello; Antonino Pontecorvo

doi:10.3934/energy.2015.4.666

AIMS Energy

2015, Volume 3, Issue 4: 666-678. doi: 10.3934/energy.2015.4.666

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Research article

Methodology for the characterization of the humidity behavior inside CPV modules

ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Portici Research Center, P.le E.Fermi, 1 - 80055 Portici (NA), Italy

Received: 10 June 2015 Accepted: 11 October 2015 Published: 20 October 2015

In this study the characterization of the humidity behavior inside concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) modules is addressed. To this purpose, several experimental tests have been carried out by using two different CPV modules and three different breathers, collecting in each analyzed case the evolution of temperature, relative and specific humidity of the air volume contained inside the module for many days. Results indicates that, for each of the CPV modules analyzed, it is possible to construct a characteristic curve in the temperature-specific humidity psychrometric chart, that can be used for estimating the specific humidity of the air inside the CPV module as a function of the internal air temperature. The characteristic curve can be also used to estimate the saturation temperature of the air inside the CPV module, and consequently to detect the eventuality of moisture condensation during cloudy days or night-time, namely when the temperature of the air inside the module is low and reaches the external ambient one. This methodology can be used in CPV modules design for the choice of the breather and of the construction materials, in order to obtain a saturation temperature as low as possible.
- CPV module,
- relative and specific humidity,
- experimental tests, fitting curve,
- extrapolation of saturation temperature
Citation: Carmine Cancro, Gabriele Ciniglio, Luigi Mongibello, Antonino Pontecorvo. Methodology for the characterization of the humidity behavior inside CPV modules[J]. AIMS Energy, 2015, 3(4): 666-678. doi: 10.3934/energy.2015.4.666

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Abstract

In this study the characterization of the humidity behavior inside concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) modules is addressed. To this purpose, several experimental tests have been carried out by using two different CPV modules and three different breathers, collecting in each analyzed case the evolution of temperature, relative and specific humidity of the air volume contained inside the module for many days. Results indicates that, for each of the CPV modules analyzed, it is possible to construct a characteristic curve in the temperature-specific humidity psychrometric chart, that can be used for estimating the specific humidity of the air inside the CPV module as a function of the internal air temperature. The characteristic curve can be also used to estimate the saturation temperature of the air inside the CPV module, and consequently to detect the eventuality of moisture condensation during cloudy days or night-time, namely when the temperature of the air inside the module is low and reaches the external ambient one. This methodology can be used in CPV modules design for the choice of the breather and of the construction materials, in order to obtain a saturation temperature as low as possible.

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