Design, Analysis, and Modeling of Curved Photovoltaic Surfaces Using Composite Materials

Espitia-Mesa, Gabriel; Hernández-Pedraza, Efraín; Molina-Tamayo, Santiago; Mejía-Gutiérrez, Ricardo

Design, Analysis, and Modeling of Curved Photovoltaic Surfaces Using Composite Materials

dc.creator	Espitia-Mesa, Gabriel
dc.creator	Hernández-Pedraza, Efraín
dc.creator	Molina-Tamayo, Santiago
dc.creator	Mejía-Gutiérrez, Ricardo
dc.date	2022-05-26
dc.date.accessioned	2025-10-01T23:52:46Z
dc.description	Currently, the use of photovoltaic solar energy has increased considerably due to the development of new materials and the ease to produce them, which has significantly reduced its acquisition costs. Most commercial photovoltaic modules have a flat geometry and are manufactured using metal reinforcement plates and glass sheets, which limits their use in irregular surfaces such as roofs and facades (BIPV) and the transportation sector (VIPV). The purpose of this study is to analyze the design implications of curved photovoltaic surfaces using composite materials. Considering operation and maintenance requirements, the most suitable reinforcement and encapsulation materials are selected based on references and experimental tests. It was found that the maximum radius of curvature that a polycrystalline silicon cell with the dimensions of a SunPower C60 model can achieve is 6.51 m for a failure probability lower than 5 %, which allows us to define the maximum curvature that this photovoltaic surface can reach. Additionally, an analytical model of the reinforcement was implemented using macromechanical models in Matlab™, which was validated by the finite element method employing the composite materials module in Ansys®. Therefore, this paper presents a detailed analysis of the shear stresses between the layers and of the deformations generated in the curved solar panel reinforcement. Finally, under the operating conditions assumed here, carbon fiber presents the best structural behavior in the reinforcement material, while epoxy resin exhibits a better performance in the encapsulation material. These results can facilitate the manufacturing of curved photovoltaic surfaces.	en-US
dc.description	Actualmente, el uso de la energía solar fotovoltaica ha aumentado de manera importante a partir del desarrollo de nuevos materiales y la facilidad de producción de los mismos, lo cual ha disminuido significativamente los costos de adquisición. Comercialmente, la mayoría de los módulos fotovoltaicos tienen geometrías planas y se fabrican a partir de placas de refuerzo metálico y láminas de vidrio, lo cual limita su uso en superficies irregulares como techos y fachadas (BIPV) y en el sector del transporte (VIPV). El propósito de este estudio es analizar las implicaciones de diseño de superficies fotovoltaicas con curvatura usando materiales compuestos. Partiendo de la definición de los requerimientos de operación y mantenimiento, se seleccionan los materiales de refuerzo y encapsulado más adecuados a partir de referencias y pruebas experimentales. Se obtiene que el radio de curvatura máximo alcanzado por una celda de silicio policristalina con las dimensiones de la referencia SunPower C60 es de 6,51 m para una probabilidad de falla menor al 5 %, lo que permite definir la curvatura máxima que puede alcanzar la superficie fotovoltaica. También se implementa un modelo analítico del refuerzo usando modelos de macromecánica a través de Matlab™, el cual es validado por el método de los elementos finitos usando el módulo de materiales compuestos de Ansys®. De esta manera, se presenta un análisis detallado de los esfuerzos cortantes entre las capas y de las deformaciones generadas en el refuerzo del panel solar curvo. Finalmente, para las condiciones de operación analizadas, el mejor comportamiento estructural en el material refuerzo lo presenta la fibra de carbono, mientras que, para el material de encapsulado, la resina epóxica presenta un mejor comportamiento. Estos resultados pueden facilitar la fabricación de superficies fotovoltaicas con curvatura.	es-ES
dc.format	application/pdf
dc.format	application/zip
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dc.identifier	https://revistas.itm.edu.co/index.php/tecnologicas/article/view/2171
dc.identifier	10.22430/22565337.2171
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12622/7811
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano (ITM)	es-ES
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dc.rights	Derechos de autor 2022 TecnoLógicas	es-ES
dc.source	TecnoLógicas; Vol. 25 No. 53 (2022); e2171	en-US
dc.source	TecnoLógicas; Vol. 25 Núm. 53 (2022); e2171	es-ES
dc.source	2256-5337
dc.source	0123-7799
dc.subject	Solar Energy	en-US
dc.subject	Photovoltaic Surfaces	en-US
dc.subject	Curved Solar Panel	en-US
dc.subject	Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)	en-US
dc.subject	Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV)	en-US
dc.subject	Energía Solar	es-ES
dc.subject	Superficies Fotovoltaicas	es-ES
dc.subject	Panel Solar Curvo	es-ES
dc.subject	Fotovoltaica Integrada en Edificios (BIPV)	es-ES
dc.subject	Fotovoltaica Integrada a Vehículos (VIPV)	es-ES
dc.title	Design, Analysis, and Modeling of Curved Photovoltaic Surfaces Using Composite Materials	en-US
dc.title	Diseño, análisis y modelamiento de superficies fotovoltaicas curvas usando materiales compuestos	es-ES
dc.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.type	Research Papers	en-US
dc.type	Artículos de investigación	es-ES