What causes temperature losses in HelioScope?
When looking at temperature losses, there are three main factors that drive the calculations:
- Project Location - The project location impacts local ambient temperature, delta in temperatures, and wind speed.
- Racking Design - Different racking types (such as flush vs. fixed tilt) have different temperature losses due to differences in airflow underneath the modules.
- Module Type - Module temperature coefficients can result in varying voltage impacts at high and low temperatures.
What are typical temperature losses?
We ran 6 designs in HelioScope in 5 different cities. These designs have the same kW DC, but have different racking and module types so they are easy to compare and see the effect of the three main temperature loss factors.
How can I change my temperature losses?
To change temperature losses for a design, we'll want to change the pieces of HelioScope that affect our three main factors:
- Weather File - Weather files can change significantly depending on project location. Create multiple condition sets with different weather files to see their impact.
- Racking Type - Make sure you're using the appropriate racking type for your array. You may need to switch between fixed tilt, carport, or flush mount.
- Module Type - Some modules are more resistant to temperature losses than others. Try making a few design copies and changing the module for each to find what works best.