No longer updated: visit github.com/NREL/bifacialvf for up-to-date versions

bifacialvf - Bifacial PV View Factor model

python, configuration factor model

Original code by Bill Marion Python translation by Silvana Ayala Updates by Chris Deline

Based on the publication: "A Practical Irradiance Model for Bifacial PV Modules" B. Marion, S. MacAlpine, C. Deline, A. Asgharzadeh, F. Toor, D. Riley, J. Stein, C. Hansen 2017 IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Washington DC, 2017 URL: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17osti/67847.pdf

Introduction

bifacialvf is a self-contained view factor (or configuration factor) model which replicates a 5-row PV system of infinite extent perpendicular to the module rows. Single-axis tracking is supported, and hourly output files based on TMY inputs are saved. Spatial nonuniformity is reported, with multiple rear-facing irradiances collected on the back of each module row.

Pre-requisites

This software is written for Anaconda Python 2.7 which can be downloaded here: https://www.anaconda.com/download/

Install using pip

1. Clone or download the bifacialvf repository.
2. Navigate to the repository directory where setup.py is located: cd bifacialvf-master
3. Install via pip: pip install .
4. Alternate installation development mode: pip install -e .

Usage

import bifacialvf

bifacialvf.simulate(inputTMY, outputfile, tilt, azm, clearance, rowspacing)
(data, metadata) = bifacialvf.loadVFresults(outputfile)

For more usage examples, see the Jupyter notebooks in \docs\

Prerequisites

*none

Main Functions

bifacialvf.simulate(TMYtoread, writefiletitle, beta, sazm, C = 1, D = 0.5, rowType = 'interior', transFactor = 0.01, cellRows = 6, PVfrontSurface = 'glass', PVbackSurface = 'glass', albedo = 0.62, tracking = False, backtrack = False, r2r = 1.5, Cv= 0.05, offset = 0):

This is the main runfile. Hourly TMY3 inputs are read, and an outputfile is saved with a number of irradiance points along the module chord specified by 'cellRows'.

loadVFresults.loadVFresults(filename = none) : read in saved file from bifacialvf.simulate. If no filename is passed, a tkinter GUI opens for file selection

Subroutines

sun.py: Solar position and irradiance-related helper files including hrSolarPos, perezComp, solarPos, and sunIncident

vf.py: View Factor helper files to help with configuration-factor calculation 1-axis tracking and self-shading calculation. Subroutines include: getBackSurfaceIrradiances, getFrontSurfaceIrradiances, getGroundShadeFactors, getSkyConfigurationFactors, trackingBFvaluescalculator, rowSpacing