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

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

Sand winds effect on the degradation of photovoltaic modules in desert environments - PART I: Simulator design and Database creating

Current research on photovoltaic generators is focused on improving operational efficiency and ensuring a long-life service, previous studies indicate that the degradation of photovoltaic generators generally results from the stress of various climatic factors in the natural environment; Sandstorms being among them and possibly the most influential where surface erosion is generated. In this paper, a novel simulator to test wind and sandstorms blowing in the southwestern Algeria Desert is presented. The developed simulator was able to generate winds at different speeds, with varying sand grain densities. as well as we rotated the samples using 360° to allow the wind to reach them from all directions. These properties adopted in the simulator will be used in subsequent research in accelerated tests to predict and estimate the degradation under the influence of sandstorms separately from any other climatic factor. We created an actual database of sand and wind density, taking measurements during the monsoon season. the obtained results confirming in consistency with those measured. We have succeeded to estimate the photovoltaic unit lifetime, and ensure better operating conditions

Investigation, Analysis and Optimization of PEMFC Channel Cross-Section Shape

In this study, a three-dimensional (CFD) model is employed to simulate and optimize the CCS (Channel Cross-Section) shape of the single straight channel PEMFC. Four CCS shapes, namely trapeze, inverted trapeze, half of ellipse and inverted half of ellipse, are investigated using ANSYS-FLUENT software and compared to the rectangular and triangular CCS shapes. The results obtained from the simulation are compared to the experimental results of the literature. A good agreement is observed between the numerical and experimental results. From the obtained results, it appears that the best delivered power density is reported by the trapeze CCS configuration, whereas, the worst delivered power density is obtained by the inverted half of ellipse CCS configuration. The highest pressure-drop and pumping power are obtained with the triangular CCS configuration and the smallest are resulted by the rectangular CCS configuration. Finally, the highest net power output is reported by the trapeze channel cross-section configuration, while, the lowest one is yielded by the inverted half of ellipse CCS configuration