A Multi-State Dynamic Thermal Model for Accurate Photovoltaic Cell Temperature Estimation

The photovoltaic (PV) cell temperature strongly affects the performance and efficiency of the entire PV module. Thus, the accurate estimation of the cell temperature plays an important role in the health monitoring and energy assessment of PV systems. This article proposes a multi-state dynamic thermal model for PV modules, considering the heat-transfer mechanisms between the module and its environments, as well as between layers. The proposed model is benchmarked against field measurements at Aalborg University, Denmark. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the model to characterize the internal behavior of the PV module under varying weather conditions. The performance of the proposed thermal model is also compared with prior-art models, i.e., two benchmark models, a one-state thermal model and two typical empirical equation-based models. The comparison further confirms that the estimation of cell temperature using the developed model is more accurate, presenting a reliable prediction of power production for further monitoring and diagnosis.