Work

Multi-Objective Optimization of Rooftop PV Arrays for Improved Heat Dissipation and Power Output

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Under extreme high-temperature conditions, heat accumulation in rooftop photovoltaic (PV) arrays can substantially reduce PV conversion efficiency and output power. To improve the thermal and power-generation performance of rooftop PV systems, this study developed a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for a rooftop PV array and validated it using field measurements from Chongqing, China. The relative root mean square errors (rRMSEs) between simulated and measured backsheet temperatures at the three measurement points were 6.31%, 7.52%, and 8.45%, respectively, indicating acceptable model accuracy. The effects of mounting height, tilt angle, and front-to-rear row spacing on PV backsheet temperature, conversion efficiency, and output power were then investigated. A central composite design (CCD) within response surface methodology (RSM) was used to establish regression models linking the design variables to the objective functions. Finally, an NSGA-III-based multi-objective optimization framework combined with TOPSIS was used to identify the optimal configuration. For the rooftop PV array studied under extreme summer conditions in Chongqing, the TOPSIS-selected compromise solution corresponded to a mounting height of 0.90 m, a tilt angle of 15.63°, and a front-to-rear row spacing of 2.96 m. Compared with the original configuration, the optimized passive installation geometry reduced the peak PV backsheet temperature by 2.3 °C without active cooling, water consumption, or additional energy input. Under the same meteorological and irradiance conditions, this temperature reduction increased conversion efficiency by 0.5% and output power by 0.4%. Detailed inter-row short-wave shading and electrical mismatch were not explicitly modeled. Therefore, the row-spacing effect mainly reflects changes in ventilation and module temperature under the same irradiance input. The proposed framework provides a practical reference for installing and optimizing rooftop PV arrays in hot-climate regions.

Source: Buildings

DOI: 10.3390/buildings16142831