Renewable Energy Focus | 2021
Mathematical modelling and experimental validation for impact of high solar cell temperature on transformer loading and life
Abstract
Abstract The penetration of grid connected solar rooftop PV (SRTPV) system in the low voltage distribution network is continuously increasing. The need to model the effect of these systems especially solar cell temperature (SCT) effect on the distribution transformer is an issue in the current scenario. In this research work, a mathematical model has been developed for SCT dependent transformer loading and the impact of these parameters on the life of distribution transformer is presented by using the IEEE guidelines. The presented model has been experimentally validated by real-time measurement of parameters of a 100\xa0kWp grid connected SRTPV system integrated to 63\xa0kVA three phase distribution transformer (TPDT) for the composite climate condition of Ghaziabad, India. The result shows that with every 5\xa0°C increase in SCT above the reference temperature, the transformer loading is increased by 2.5%. From past one year collected data, it is observed that the loss factor of TPDT life has reached the value of 0.21 at STC and hot spot temperature (HST) values of 68.20 and 158\xa0°C respectively.