API field
Thermal
How the module temperature is computed
What it is
The thermal section sets the parameters of the module temperature model: the heat-loss factors, the fraction of light the module absorbs, whether the module's thermal inertia is modelled, and an optional mass per square metre. The method is chosen on the Model tab.
Typical values and how to get it
Ground-mounted open racks: a constant factor of 29 W/(m²·K) and a wind factor of 0 W/(m²·K) per m/s. Roof-mounted with little air behind: 20 W/(m²·K) and 0 W/(m²·K) per m/s. A pair with a wind term, such as 25 W/(m²·K) with 1.2 W/(m²·K) per m/s, suits a measured fit or a site with reliable wind data. Keep the inertia on.
References
- Faiman 2008, Assessing the outdoor operating temperature of photovoltaic modules, Progress in Photovoltaics 16(4) 307–315
- Prilliman, Stein, Riley & Tamizhmani 2020, Transient weighted moving-average model of photovoltaic module back-surface temperature, IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 10(4) 1053–1060
API
thermal