Open AccessMethodology for the characterization of the humidity behavior inside CPV modules
Author(s) -
C. Cancro,
Gabriele Ciniglio,
Luigi Mongibello,
Antonino Pontecorvo
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
aims energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.294
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2333-8334
pISSN - 2333-8326
DOI - 10.3934/energy.2015.4.666
Subject(s) - psychrometrics , humidity , hygrometer , relative humidity , saturation (graph theory) , materials science , environmental science , moisture , air humidity , meteorology , composite material , physics , mathematics , combinatorics
In this study the characterization of the humidity behavior inside concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) modules is addressed. To this purpose, several experimental tests have been carried out by using two different CPV modules and three different breathers, collecting in each analyzed case the evolution of temperature, relative and specific humidity of the air volume contained inside the module for many days. Results indicates that, for each of the CPV modules analyzed, it is possible to construct a characteristic curve in the temperature-specific humidity psychrometric chart, that can be used for estimating the specific humidity of the air inside the CPV module as a function of the internal air temperature. The characteristic curve can be also used to estimate the saturation temperature of the air inside the CPV module, and consequently to detect the eventuality of moisture condensation during cloudy days or night-time, namely when the temperature of the air inside the module is low and reaches the external ambient one. This methodology can be used in CPV modules design for the choice of the breather and of the construction materials, in order to obtain a saturation temperature as low as possible