Thermal and electrical properties of photovoltaic cell with linear phenomenological heat transfer law

The thermal and electrical properties of photovoltaic cell (PVC) under linear phenomenological heat transfer law between it and the environment is studied through finite time thermodynamics and the volt-ampere characteristic equation. The properties of PVC are affected by heat transfer between PVC and environment. There are optimal solar radiation intensity and PVC output voltage (OV), which make the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PECE) of PVC reach the highest value. When OV and solar radiation intensity are 28.50 V and 700 W/m2, the maximum PECE is 0.156. There is also the best solar radiation intensity, which makes the open-circuit voltage (OCV) reach the maximum. When solar radiant intensity is 669 W/m2, the maximum OCV is 33.14 V. The values of power output and short-circuit current (SCC) are monotonically increasing with solar radiation intensity. Given solar radiation intensity, the power output and OV exhibit a parabolic shape. The operating temperature falls first and then grows with the OV. However, the change of operating temperature with OV is not much. Band gap is a decreasing function of operating temperature. This article can give theoretical support for the design and use of PVCs.