This document discusses using ray tracing to model bifacial photovoltaic systems. Ray tracing allows for more accurate modelling of rear-side irradiances compared to traditional view factor methods by accounting for complex shading effects. Experimental measurements of rear-side irradiances on a 15 kW bifacial array showed good agreement with ray tracing simulations. The ray tracing model was also integrated with an electrical model in Dymola, and validation against voltage, current, power and yield measurements also showed good accuracy within 1%. Ray tracing is presented as a powerful tool for modelling large bifacial PV installations and quantifying losses from rear-side shading effects.
99.99% of Your Traces Are (Probably) Trash (SRECon NA 2024).pdf
Enhanging bifacial PV modeling with ray-tracing
1. ENHANCING BIFACIAL PV
MODELLING WITH RAY-TRACING
Amy Lindsay, Matthieu Chiodetti, Didier Binesti, Sophie Mousel,
Eric Lutun, Khalid Radouane, Sébastien Bermes, Régis Lecussan
6th PV PMC Workshop
25th of October 2016
2. | 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
1. INTRODUCTION TO BIFACIAL PV
2. HOW TO MODEL REAR SIDE IRRADIANCES
3. ADVANTAGES OF RAY-TRACING
4. EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS
3. | 3
INTRODUCTION
The ground-reflected irradiance is of prime
importance for the rear irradiance of bifacial PV
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
29.8% 17.7% 12.6%
68.1%
81.0%
86.5%
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
albedo = 0.2 albedo = 0.4 albedo = 0.6
Yearlyirrradiation(kWh/m²)
Beam irradiation Diffuse irradiation Ground-reflected
Relative contribution of the different components of light to the
rear side irradiance (Illustrative case: large-scale bifacial
plant, Mediterranean climate)
Need for precise modelling of
ground-reflected irradiance
4. | 4
INTRODUCTION
Challenges of bifacial PV modelling:
The standard sky and ground view factors are no longer valid
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
1 − cos(𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑡)
2
1 + cos(𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑡)
2X
Comparison level Module* String* Plant*
Gain compared to monofacial
equivalent (kWh/kWp)
25% 18.5% 9%
* Measured, on clear concrete ground
The shadow cast on the ground is highly impacting
5. | 5
HOW TO MODEL REAR SIDE IRRADIANCES
1st approach : the view factor methodology
View factors quantify the proportion of radiation which leaves surface m and strikes
surface S
Requires a meshing of the ground, the shadow, the PV installation…
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Pros:
- Easy to implement for simple geometries
Cons:
- Accuracy depends on the meshing
- Calculation time explodes with the size of the system
- Difficult to take into account irregular geometries
- Difficult to take into account structures
6. | 6
REAR IRRADIANCE MODEL
Calculates the rear irradiances
based upon:
(1): the position of the module within
the stand
(2): the shadow cast on the ground
(3): the ground albedo
(4): the stand behind
𝐼𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑−𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 = 𝛼 ∗ 𝐺𝐻𝐼 ∗ 𝑉𝐹 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑒→𝑛𝑜𝑛−𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
+𝛼 ∗ 𝐷𝐻𝐼 ∗ 𝑉𝐹 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑒→𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒 = 𝐷𝐻𝐼 ∗ 𝑉𝐹 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑒→𝑠𝑘𝑦
𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 = max(𝐵𝑁𝐼 ∗ cos 𝑖 , 0)
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
α: ground albedo
VF: view factor
GHI, DHI, BNI: Global Horizontal, Diffuse Horizontal
and Beam Normal Irradiances
i: incidence angle of beam
7. | 7
HOW TO MODEL REAR SIDE IRRADIANCES
2nd approach : ray tracing
Tracing back the path of light:
from the PV cell to the light source (= sun and diffuse) by
taking into account its encounters with obstacles
Rays of light = straight lines
Diffuse and/or specular reflection
Example : eye = one PV cell 1 million of rays are sent by
Monte Carlo, equiprobably distributed on the hemisphere
by successive reflections, they reach the light sources : sun
and diffuse from the sky
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
8. | 8
Ray tracing platform developed in partnership with EnerBIM
RAY TRACING PLATFORM
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Pros:
- Gives irradiance inhomogeneity
- Shading
- Impact of structures
- Flexible (different configurations…)
- User friendly
Cons:
- Relatively hard to implement
11. | 11
COMPARISON OF THE TWO METHODS
Good agreement of the two methodologies for a simple case
Ray tracing platform allows to go quite easily to the cell-level
Reduced computation time with ray tracing
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
12. | 12
RAY TRACING ENHANCEMENTS
Case 2: an isolated bifacial module, with and without a frame, without structure,
albedo 30%
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Frameless bifacial module Framed bifacial module
(difficult to model with view factor method)
13. | 13
RAY TRACING ENHANCEMENTS
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Frameless bifacial module Framed bifacial module
FRONT SIDE
kWh/m²/year
No impact on the front side but…
14. | 14
RAY TRACING ENHANCEMENTS
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Frameless bifacial module Framed bifacial module
REAR SIDE
Min = 141.3 kWh/m²/y
Average = 197.2 kWh/m²/y
Min = 121.9 kWh/m²/y
Average = 179.3 kWh/m²/y
-13% on the least illuminated cell
-9% on the total irradiance
kWh/m²/year
15. | 15
RAY TRACING ENHANCEMENTS
The frame can have a strong impact on the irradiance received on the
rear side
Currently, the frame, or the junction boxes are not optimized for bifacial
PV
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
16. | 16
RAY TRACING ENHANCEMENTS
Case 3: one 60 bifacial module array, with frames, with/without structures, albedo
30%
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Bifacial array without structure Bifacial array with structure
(difficult to model with view factor method)
17. | 17
RAY TRACING ENHANCEMENTS
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Bifacial array without structure Bifacial array with structure
FRONT SIDE
kWh/m²/year
No impact on the front side but…
18. | 18
RAY TRACING ENHANCEMENTS
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Bifacial array without structure Bifacial array with structure
REAR SIDE
kWh/m²/year
Min = 60.8 kWh/m²/y
Average = 161.6 kWh/m²/y
Min = 147.1 kWh/m²/y
Average = 208.6 kWh/m²/y
-58% on the least illuminated cell
-22% on the total irradiance
19. | 19
RAY TRACING ENHANCEMENTS
Structures have an impact on the rear side irradiance
Ray tracing allows to quantify the losses associated to complex
shading
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
20. | 20
EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS
15 kWp bifacial array near Paris
Plant configuration for the rear side (GCR = 50%)
Albedo 30%
6 pyranometers on the rear side to validate the irradiances
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
60 bifacial modules at EDF R&D 6 pyranometers on the rear side
21. | 21
RAY TRACING MODEL VALIDATION
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
3D model of the test zone
22. | 22
RAY TRACING MODEL VALIDATION
Rear irradiances
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
1
2
3
4
5
6
Pyranometers in the ray tracing platform
(2 on the Eastern edge, 4 in the center)
Ray tracing simulation of the
irradiances over a sunny day
Experimental measurements of the
irradiances over a sunny day
Pyranometers in the center (5 and 6) are the most
impacted by the shadow and the structures
23. | 23
RAY TRACING MODEL VALIDATION
Rear irradiances
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
1
2
3
4
5
6
Example of hourly correlation of the
simulated and measured rear side
irradiances of pyranometer n°1 over 3
months
Over 3 months of data, on all
pyranometers :
RMSE: 15.7 W/m²
Close to the pyranometers’ uncertainties
Good agreement measures / simulation
Mean Bias Error: + 10 W/m²
Slight overestimation of the rear irradiances
Under investigation
24. | 24Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
RAY TRACING MODEL VALIDATION
Overview of the irradiance inhomogeneity over 3 months
kWh/m²kWh/m²
25. | 25
Irradiances considered at a bypass diode level
ELECTRIC MODEL
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Bifaciality factor depending on the irradiance
26. | 26
ELECTRIC MODEL
I-V curve simulation taking into account irradiance inhomogeneity
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
1000 W/m2
300 W/m2
Developed under a Dymola/Modelica environment
27. | 27
ELECTRIC MODEL VALIDATION
DC voltage
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
DC current
Example of voltage measurements and
simulation over 3 days
Example of current measurements and
simulation over 3 days
MBE = +1.4% MBE = -2.5%
Over 3 months of data:
28. | 28
ELECTRIC MODEL VALIDATION
DC power and yield
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016
Example of power measurements and
simulation over 3 days
Hourly correlation of simulated and
measured yield over 3 months
MBE = -0.9%
RMSE = 4.1%
Over 3 months of data:
29. | 29
SUMMARY
Ray tracing is a powerful tool for modelling bifacial PV:
Quantifies the losses due to rear side shading (frames, structures, junction boxes,…),
which can be significant
Quantifies the impact of casted shadow on the ground and on the other rows
Modelling of large scale bifacial PV installations is feasible:
Ray tracing + Dymola model shows a good accuracy
Error on the yield < 1%
Model validation to be pursued:
On a longer period
On different locations
Enhancing bifacial PV modelling with ray-tracing | 10/2016