Effect of Torque-Tube Parameters on Rear-Irradiance and Rear-Shading Loss for Bifacial PV Performance on Single-Axis Tracking Systems
The emergence of cost-competitive bifacial PV modules has raised the question of the additional value of bifacial 1-axis tracking arrays, in particular when considering rear-irradiance losses from the tracker system itself. In this work, the effect of different geometries and materials of torque tubes is evaluated through ray-trace simulations and found to cause rear irradiance shading factors between 2% to 8% for systems without gap between the modules in 2-UP configuration. Inclusion of a gap between the modules can offset the shading factor. Electrical mismatch is also evaluated for the various configurations, and a methodology to apply shading factor and electrical mismatch loss to rear irradiance from the calculated loss in DC power, which averages 1% for the systems explored here, is proposed.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1726058
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-5K00-78468; MainId:32385; UUID:1a3aa0c5-b4fc-449d-b324-3e131319a012; MainAdminID:18883
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at the 2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 16-21 June 2019, Chicago, Illinois; Related Information: 73203
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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