Title: A comparative study of exergetic performance of amorphous and polycrystalline solar PV modules

Authors: K.N. Shukla; Saroj Rangnekar; K Sudhakar

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Lakshmi Narain College of Technology, Kalchuri Nagar, Bhopal 462021, MP, India ' Energy Centre, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal 462051, MP, India ' Energy Centre, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal 462051, MP, India

Abstract: This paper presents the experimental analysis of amorphous and polycrystalline PV modules of each 5 W rating tested at Energy Centre, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India, on a typical hazy day of January (27 January, 2014). The energy, exergy, and power conversion efficiencies of both the modules have been evaluated based on measured parameters such as solar intensity, ambient temperature, wind speed, and module temperature. Exergetic efficiency of amorphous PV module varied from 2.44% to 3.92% whereas it varied from 4.83% to 8.32% for polycrystalline PV module throughout the day. The energy efficiencies of both the modules are found to be always higher than that of exergy efficiencies and power conversion efficiencies.

Keywords: amorphous PV modules; polycrystalline PV modules; photovolaic modules; solar radiation; energy efficiency; exergy efficiency; exergetic performance; comparative study; power conversion efficiency; solar energy; solar power; solar panels; solar intensity; ambient temperature; wind speed; module temperature.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2015.071559

International Journal of Exergy, 2015 Vol.17 No.4, pp.433 - 455

Received: 20 Mar 2014
Accepted: 16 Jul 2014
Published online: 01 Sep 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article