Analytical assessment of the filed results on the PV system connectors performance under operating temperature

Mebarek LAHBIB; Mohammed BOUSSAID; Houcine MOUNGAR; Ahmed TAHRI; Mebarek LAHBIB; Mohammed BOUSSAID; Houcine MOUNGAR; Ahmed TAHRI

doi:10.3934/energy.2023029

AIMS Energy

2023, Volume 11, Issue 3: 555-575. doi: 10.3934/energy.2023029

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Research article

Analytical assessment of the filed results on the PV system connectors performance under operating temperature

1.
Laboratory of energy, environment and information systems, Department of Material Sciences, University of Ahmed Draia, Adrar, Algeria
2.
Renewable Energy Research Unit in Saharan Area (URERMS), Renewable Energy Development Center (CDER), Adrar, Algeria

Received: 15 February 2023 Revised: 21 May 2023 Accepted: 23 May 2023 Published: 15 June 2023

In this study, we will shed light on the aggressive effect of a blowing sandstorm in the presence of high temperatures on the photovoltaic inter-module connectors in a solar station located in the desert environment of southwestern Algeria. After a short period of operation, it is observed that the MC4 connectors, which tighten the interconnection between the photovoltaic modules, are completely faulty because of sand grains carried away by a wind blowing at an average annual speed, which exceeds 6 m/s. Then, we analyzed and evaluated the connector failure to propose an appropriate solution. We checked the variations of the intrinsic temperatures of each connector employing the thermocouple for the three cases of operating temperatures, as well as the current measurement flowing through each connector, to calculate the powers dissipated in each branch of the circuit. Finally, this experimental work shows that a loss of power reaches almost 10% from the nominal power of the typical case. The proposed solution for this problem is to cover the connectors with an impervious plastic cover.
- solar station,
- temperature,
- energy,
- connector of modules,
- sand wind
Citation: Mebarek LAHBIB, Mohammed BOUSSAID, Houcine MOUNGAR, Ahmed TAHRI. Analytical assessment of the filed results on the PV system connectors performance under operating temperature[J]. AIMS Energy, 2023, 11(3): 555-575. doi: 10.3934/energy.2023029

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Abstract

In this study, we will shed light on the aggressive effect of a blowing sandstorm in the presence of high temperatures on the photovoltaic inter-module connectors in a solar station located in the desert environment of southwestern Algeria. After a short period of operation, it is observed that the MC4 connectors, which tighten the interconnection between the photovoltaic modules, are completely faulty because of sand grains carried away by a wind blowing at an average annual speed, which exceeds 6 m/s. Then, we analyzed and evaluated the connector failure to propose an appropriate solution. We checked the variations of the intrinsic temperatures of each connector employing the thermocouple for the three cases of operating temperatures, as well as the current measurement flowing through each connector, to calculate the powers dissipated in each branch of the circuit. Finally, this experimental work shows that a loss of power reaches almost 10% from the nominal power of the typical case. The proposed solution for this problem is to cover the connectors with an impervious plastic cover.

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