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Effects of Temperature, Solar Flux and Relative Humidity on the Efficient

Conversion of Solar Energy to Electricity

Article · October 2009

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European Journal of Scientific Research
ISSN 1450-216X Vol.35 No.2 (2009), pp.173-180
© EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2009
http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr.htm

Effects of Temperature, Solar Flux and Relative Humidity on

the Efficient Conversion of Solar Energy to Electricity

V. B. Omubo-Pepple
Department of Physics, Rivers State University of Science & Technology
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
E-mail: omubopepple@yahoo.com

C. Israel-Cookey
Department of Mathematics, Rivers State University of Science & Technology
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
E-mail: cookeyci@yahoo.com

G. I. Alaminokuma
Department of Physics, Rivers State University of Science & Technology
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
E-mail: glital_n@yahoo.com

Abstract

The effect of temperature, solar flux and relative humidity on the efficient
conversion of solar energy to electricity using photovoltaic (PV) modules in Port Harcourt
(tropical climate region) was studied using a B-K Precision Model 615 Digital Light
instrument. Results obtained show that there is a direct proportionality between solar flux,
output current and efficiency of the photovoltaic module. The results also indicate that the
operating temperature of the commercial photovoltaic module is about 43 °C. Relative
humidity and solar flux has a negligible effect on the output voltage of the photovoltaic
module. The manufacturer’s maximum power of 16W was nearly achieved under the
operating temperature of 43ºC, with low relative humidity of about 77% and solar flux of
about 79klux. Also, current of about 18.42 x 10-1A producing an efficiency of about 82%
was recorded.

Keywords: Solar Flux, Relative Humidity, Photovoltaic Module, Ambient Temperature.

1. Introduction
The rate of energy consumption per capital has become a criterion of success in developing countries,
providing the growing society with constant energy (Zafer et al, 2007). Fossil fuels reserves which
provide the most part of energy sources of the world are limited and generally decreasing with
environmental problems. The unsustainability of the present production-consumption energy model
highlights the finite nature of conventional energy sources. The environmental degradation occasioned
by the emission currently generated by the use of fossil fuels are the serious environmental problems,
such as acid rain, green house effect and ozone layer depletion, which in many cases are irreversible,
(Dincar, 2003). Researches are ongoing for developing a more efficient way of producing energy from
Effects of Temperature, Solar Flux and Relative Humidity on the Efficient
Conversion of Solar Energy to Electricity 174

alternative sources which are harmless to the environment. Increase use of renewable energy sources
such as solar thermal, biomass, wind, hydroelectricity and solar electricity are viable solution to some
of the environmental problems generated by other sources of energy. The rapid development and sales
volume of PV modules has created a promising business environment in the foreseeable future.
However, the electricity cost from PV is still several times higher than from the conventional power
generation, (Chow et al, 2007). For solar energy, PV is identified to be of good potential for wide-scale
application.
Port Harcourt metropolis belongs to the subtropical climatic region with typically hot and wet
climate. The characteristic distribution of total, diffuse and direct solar radiation in Calabar, studied by
Akpabio and Udoimuk (2003) is similar to that of Port Harcourt metropolis. With relatively uniform
daylight hours and higher solar altitude throughout the year, the solar radiation is rich. Nevertheless,
the working temperature of the solar cell is also high. It is a well-known that the electrical efficiency of
the solar cell drops with increase in operating temperature, (Chow et al, 2007).
This work is aimed at the conversion of solar energy to useful electricity, and what effect
environmental factors such as solar flux, temperature and relative humidity has on the efficiency of this
conversion using commercially used photovoltaic module in the hot wet climatic region such as Port
Harcourt. Solar flux is a determining factor in studying the natural potential of solar energy as a source
of renewable energy. It is known that the average solar radiation potential for tropical climatic region is
about 16.4 ± 1.2MJ/m2 per day (Green, 2002). With this amount of solar radiation, solar energy may
therefore be considered as potential energy source for domestic, industrial and commercial buildings.
Olusegun, (1980) showed that the average temperature distribution throughout the year in hot wet
climatic region is about 28 ± 1ºC, while the relative humidity in the morning is about 80% and above.
Photovoltaic module, a semiconductor material (p-n diode) is the device which directly
converts solar energy to electricity, (Muneer et al, 2005). Silicon is mostly used in the fabrication of
solar cells. Detail study of the process is given by Jager-Waldau, (2002).Solar cells operates as a
quantum device exchanging photon for electrons. Photons from the sun with sufficient energy near the
depletion region of a p-n junction and produces electron – hole pairs. If these electrons have enough
energy, they will move to the conduction band, leaving holes in the valence band. The potential
difference across the depletion region provides an electric field that pulls the electrons to the n- region
and the hole to the p-region. The newly free electron can then flow from the n-region to the p- region
and recombines with the newly created holes. In this way the energy of the incident photon is
converted.

2. Instrumentation
A B-K Precision Model 615 Digital Light was used. It measurement range is between 20 to 20klux and
20 to 20fc with resolution of 0.01lux and 0.01fc. It has a backlit LCD display, peak-hold and data hold
features. Its measurement rate is 2.5 times per second and operates within the temperature range of 0ºC
to 50ºC at 85% relative humidity. Its storage temperature is between -20 to 60ºC and 0 to 90 % relative
humidity.
In temperature measurement, a Model 220K type digital thermometer with range -199.9 to
1370ºC was used. The instrument is housed in an ergonomically designed case that is environmentally
protected. A Kestrel model, 3000 pocket weather digital meter which measures directly ambient
temperature and relative humidity was used. An ALDA model AV0890C digital multimeter, designed
to measure resistance, voltage, current etc was used.
175 V. B. Omubo-Pepple, C. Israel-Cookey and G. I. Alaminokuma

The commercial photovoltaic module used has the following components:

Glazing front and back : Low-iron glass with thickness 4mm
Solar type : Mono-crystalline silicon
Cell area : 1.9m2
Electrical efficiency STP : 13%
Solar cell temperature coefficient : 0.005/k
Surface area of panel : 3029m2

3. Method and Results

The solar panel was placed on a horizontal table of about two metres high facing the sun, while the
output terminals are connected to the input terminals of the digital multimeter. The sensor of the meter
was placed by the side of the solar panel. The solar flux, ambient temperature, relative humidity and
the temperature of the solar panel were all recorded accordingly.
The power of the solar panel is given by
Power = Voltage x Current (watts ) (1)
While the efficiency of the solar panel is calculated using,
Power of solar panel x 100%
Efficiency = (2)
Area of solar panel x 100W / m 2

Table 1: Measurements obtained with the instruments.

Current Voltage Power Efficiency Solar panel Solar flux Relative Ambient Time of the
(A) x10-1 (V) x10-1 (W) x10-1 (Eff) % temp. ºC (Klux) humidity % temp. ºC day (min)
0 0.35 0 0 25.2 0.012 84.9 28.8 6.00
0.13 3.30 0.43 0.23 25.6 0.50 87.5 28.6 6.30
0.77 5.51 3.52 1.86 26.7 2.44 85.2 29.2 7.00
1.13 6.20 7.01 3.71 27.8 4.00 84.2 29.5 7.30
1.95 6.95 13.55 7.17 29.0 7.30 82.5 30.4 8.00
2.61 7.41 9.34 10.23 31.1 12.47 78.9 31.6 8.30
2.86 7.70 22.02 11.65 34.4 12.90 76.7 33.1 9.00
11.34 8.30 92.65 49.02 43.4 48.10 78.0 33.4 9.30
15.08 8.31 125.30 66.30 47.9 62.19 73.0 32.9 10.00
17.40 8.50 148.10 78.36 46.11 72.74 78.1 33.1 10.30
18.40 8.30 155.50 82.28 42.8 78.85 77.3 33.4 11.00
17.54 8.26 144.40 76.67 46.0 74.45 75.8 33.4 11.30
16.08 7.80 125.40 66.35 49.0 69.87 73.7 33.8 12.00
15.47 7.59 117.40 62.12 54.2 70.80 70.0 34.2 12.30
15.52 7.86 114.10 63.35 55.6 65.85 73.5 34.1 13.00
12.42 7.97 99.00 52.38 51.9 53.80 72.0 33.4 13.30
13.00 7.79 103.60 54.81 55.1 60.51 74.0 34.2 14.00
1.07 5.80 6.21 3.28 44.1 3.55 75.1 32.7 14.30
0.96 3.63 3.48 1.84 28.0 0.19 75.0 31.2 15.00

4. Discussion
Sze (1985), showed that increase in temperature from 25ºC increases the generation of electron- hole
pair in the photovoltaic module which thus leads to increase in the mobility within the p-n junction
leading to increase in current of the module. Figure 1 shows that the current increases with temperature
to about 43ºC where surge in current is observed and beyond this temperature, current begins to drop,
thus indicating the maximum operating temperature of the photovoltaic module.
Figure 2 shows that between 25 and 35ºC voltage increase. Further increase in temperature,
voltage remains relatively stable and beyond 44ºC, voltage begins to drop indicating that temperature
Effects of Temperature, Solar Flux and Relative Humidity on the Efficient
Conversion of Solar Energy to Electricity 176

has insignificant effect on the voltage output, while figure 3 indicates that high temperature does not
favour high performance of the photovoltaic module.
Figure 4 shows increase in current is directly proportional to solar flux,. This is because
increase in solar flux (illumination) causes an increase in photon from the sun which strikes the solar
cell junction, thus increasing the electron-pair production and the mobility carriers. Decrease in solar
flux leads to decrease in current as experienced during haze, cloud cover, dust and sun set. Increase in
solar flux has no effect on the output voltage. Voltage remains almost stable despite increase in solar
flux, (see figure 5). The decrease observed at the end of the curve was due to clear sky occasioned by
high solar flux. Figure 6 depicts that efficiency and solar flux are directly proportional just like current
and solar flux. This further proves that current output determines the efficiency of the photovoltaic
module. Figure 7 shows that when current increases, relative humidity drops which means low water
vapour in the atmosphere, resulting to high flux which enhances high current production. Figure 8
indicates that increase in voltage leads to decrease in relative humidity. Figure 9 shows that efficiency
is high during low relative humidity.
During the early hours of the morning, the solar panel temperature is lower than the ambient
temperature. This is because the solar cells are cased with glass and aluminium material which have
low temperature at room temperature. At noon, the solar panel temperature increases rapidly than the
ambient temperature. This is because at this time, there is a high solar flux from the sun resulting to
high amount of proton reaching the panel. The solar panel temperature drops relatively faster than the
ambient temperature due to low proton from the sun. The fluctuation in solar panel occasioned by
cloud movement during the day shows that ambient temperature does not affect the solar panel
temperature directly.

5. Conclusion
The research shows that there is a direct proportionality between current, solar flux and efficiency as
shown in figures 4 and 6. The effect of relative humidity on both current and efficiency are observed to
be the same. The research further confirms that the ambient temperature has no direct effect on the
solar panel temperature rather solar flux do have effect.
Relatively uniform day light hours and high solar altitude throughout the year enhances solar
radiation which is rich in proton. With good working temperature of solar cells of about 43ºC, low
relative humidity of about 70%, 76%, solar flux of about 78.85kiloflux, with an open current of 18.42 x
10-1A, it is possible to obtain efficiency of up to 82.28% from the solar panel. Hence an increase in
solar flux combined, with low relative humidity leads to increase in output current and efficiency of the
panel; while the electrical efficiency drops with increase in operating temperature. Thus the application
of of photovoltaic technology in the conversion of solar energy to electricity within the region under
study is favourable than in cool climate region.
177 V. B. Omubo-Pepple, C. Israel-Cookey and G. I. Alaminokuma
Figure 1: Current and Solar panel Temperature

Figure 2: Voltage and Solar panel temperature.

Figure 3: Solar panel temperature and Efficiency

Effects of Temperature, Solar Flux and Relative Humidity on the Efficient
Conversion of Solar Energy to Electricity 178

Figure 4: Current and Solar flux

Figure 5: Solar flux and voltage

Figure 6: Solar flux and efficiency

179 V. B. Omubo-Pepple, C. Israel-Cookey and G. I. Alaminokuma
Figure 7: Current and relative humidity

Figure 8: Relative humidity and voltage.

Figure 9: Relative humidity and Efficiency.

Effects of Temperature, Solar Flux and Relative Humidity on the Efficient
Conversion of Solar Energy to Electricity 180

Figure 10: Solar panel temp, Solar flux and Ambient temp against time of the day.

References
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[3] Dincar I (2003): The role of Energy in Energy Policy Making. Energy Policy Vol 30 137-149.
[4] Green M. A. (2002): Photovoltaic Technological Overview. Energy Policy Vol 28, 989-998.
[5] Jager-Waldau A. (2002): Status of PV Research, Solar Cell Production and Market
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[6] Muneer T., Asif M. and Munawars (2005): Sustainable Production of Solar Electricity with
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