In this article, an attempt has been made to investigate the exergetic performance of a solar photovoltaic (PV) array. A detailed energy and exergy analysis has been carried out to calculate the operating and electrical parameters, exergy destruction components, and exergy efficiency of a typical PV array. The operating and electrical parameters of a PV array include PV array temperature, overall heat loss coefficient, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, maximum power point voltage, maximum power point current, etc. Some corrections have been done on the overall heat loss coefficient. Further, a new equation for the exergy efficiency of a PV array has been derived in terms of exergy destruction components. A computer simulation program has also been developed in order to calculate the operating and electrical parameters of a PV array. The results of numerical simulation are in good agreement with the experimental measurements noted in the previous literature. Furthermore, the new exergy efficiency obtained in this article is in fair agreement with the one given by the previous literature. Finally, parametric studies have been carried out. It is observed that PV array temperature has a great effect on the exergy efficiency, and the exergy efficiency can be improved if the heat can be removed from the PV array surface. On the other hand, design parameters such as PV array area have a little effect on the exergy efficiency.
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