Damp-Heat Effects on Short Circuit Current, Open Circuit Voltage and Efficiency into Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Solar Modules in Tropical Zone

Photovoltaic solar modules, for their operation are necessarily exposed outdoors and subject to the inclinations of nature. These include: temperature, heat, moisture, wind, dust, sun ultraviolet rays etc. Each of these inclinations acts differently on the PV modules operation, contributing to affect its electrical parameters namely the short circuit current, the open circuit voltage, the form factor, the efficiency, the power etc. Several researchers have studied the behavior of these electrical parameters in different climatic zones around the world and have produced diverse results. The present study concerns the behavior of the module electrical parameters namely the short circuit current, the open circuit voltage and the efficiency of the PV module when exposed to outdoor conditions in the tropical zone under the effect of Damp Heat. For this, we simulated over a period of forty years, using the analytical degradation models of Peck, Braisaz and calculation methods from which we established new degradation models. These degradation models being a function of relative humidity and temperature, we used data from synoptic stations to see the impact of Damp Heat on the three electrical parameters involved. The results obtained vary from 2.86 - 7.14% for the short circuit current, 0.43-0.66% for the open circuit voltage and 7.75-19.44% for the efficiency over the study period. To validate the analytical models used, we used the experimental Damp Heat test results. The results obtained to compare with those obtained in the literature are conclusive and reveal the impact of the tropical zone (severe climatic conditions) on the electrical parameters of the module studied. So, future researches on crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar module can be effect of Damp-Heat on the photocurrent, saturation current and ideality factor in tropical zone.