publications | Thomas Villemin

2025

MSMSE
Opto-electrical model of a single-junction photovoltaic cell using Monte Carlo methods

Thomas VILLEMIN , Daniel Yaacoub , Stéphane Blanco , and 8 more authors

Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, 2025

doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-651x/ae1310

URL: http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-651X/ae1310

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In the context of the development of solar photovoltaics for global energy production, it remains essential to clearly identify performance limitations.The present article revisits the interpretations of photovoltaic cell performance by introducing a path-integral formulation of the current. The case of a single p-n junction cell operating in low injection conditions is examined as a proof of concept. The total current is calculated by implementing two different algorithms, which exhibit two viewpoints for analyzing the physics involved. The first one describes random walks on a reverse path space, back to the source of charge carriers. The second one describes random walks on a direct path space, starting from the source. Both algorithms are validated against an analytical solution. A Monte Carlo algorithm is also proposed for directly determining the voltage at the maximum power point without requiring the entire current-voltage curve. The calculation of a spectral-spatial internal quantum efficiency, combined with a statistical analysis of the random paths, demonstrates the relevance of this approach for interpreting the involved physics. Numerous benefits are anticipated from our advancements in Monte Carlo techniques: enhanced physics representations, insensitivity of computation time to the dimension of the integration domain, and to the geometrical complexity at all scales.
@article{villemin2025_electrical_model, author = {VILLEMIN, Thomas and Yaacoub, Daniel and Blanco, Stéphane and Claverie, Rémy and Cornet, Jean-François and Dauchet, Jérémi and Farges, Olivier and Fournier, Richard and Parent, Gilles and Vaillon, Rodolphe and Vourc'h, Thomas}, title = {Opto-electrical model of a single-junction photovoltaic cell using Monte Carlo methods}, journal = {Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-651x/ae1310}, url = {http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-651X/ae1310}, year = {2025}, }

2024

IJTS
Monte Carlo prediction of the energy performance of a photovoltaic panel using detailed meteorological input data

Thomas Villemin, Olivier Farges , Gilles Parent , and 1 more author

International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 2024

doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2023.108672

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1290072923005331

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Modeling the thermal behavior of a photovoltaic system is one step toward a better simulation of its electrical performances. In this study, a numerical model of the energy balance of a 310W photovoltaic panel is developed and used to estimate the panel’s temperature by integrating the meteorological parameters over time. The input factors are the global irradiance, wind speed, ambient temperature, ground and sky temperatures if available. The energy balance is interpreted in a probabilistic way using the Monte Carlo method which provides access to an estimation of the system temperature at any probe location. This estimation is validated using experimental data for typical days with clear, cloudy and rainy conditions. Then the model is used to determine the electrical production. Firstly, it is used for the month of June 2022 where the energy estimate is compared to the experimental measurements in Nancy (France). Secondly, the model is applied over the year 2019 for two different locations — in Nancy (France) and in Las Vegas (Nevada, USA). The results are analyzed and compared with the European photovoltaic simulation tool PVGIS. Finally, the electrical production in Nancy from 2013 to 2020 is estimated using the present model.
@article{VILLEMIN2024108672, title = {Monte Carlo prediction of the energy performance of a photovoltaic panel using detailed meteorological input data}, journal = {International Journal of Thermal Sciences}, volume = {195}, pages = {108672}, year = {2024}, issn = {1290-0729}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2023.108672}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1290072923005331}, author = {Villemin, Thomas and Farges, Olivier and Parent, Gilles and Claverie, Rémy}, keywords = {Photovoltaics, Monte Carlo method, Heat transfers, Renewable technologies}, }

Conference

Simulation of a building-applied photovoltaics: energy performance of the building

Thomas Villemin, Alex Royer , Olivier Farges , and 2 more authors

In International Conference on Inverse Problems in Engineering , 2024

Bib PDF

@inproceedings{villeminICIPE2024,
  title = {Simulation of a building-applied photovoltaics: energy performance of the building},
  author = {Villemin, Thomas and Royer, Alex and Farges, Olivier and Parent, Gilles and Claverie, Remy},
  booktitle = {International Conference on Inverse Problems in Engineering},
  pages = {10},
  year = {2024},
  organization = {Begellhouse}
}

2023

Thèse

Modélisation des échanges énergétiques entre la surface d’une toiture végétalisée extensive et un panneau photovoltaïque

Thomas Villemin

Jun 2023

URL: https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/tel-04221577

Bib PDF

@phdthesis{villemin:tel-04221577,
  title = {{Mod{\'e}lisation des {\'e}changes {\'e}nerg{\'e}tiques entre la surface d'une toiture v{\'e}g{\'e}talis{\'e}e extensive et un panneau photovolta{\"i}que}},
  author = {Villemin, Thomas},
  url = {https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/tel-04221577},
  number = {2023LORR0118},
  school = {{Universit{\'e} de Lorraine}},
  year = {2023},
  month = jun,
  keywords = {Modelling ; Photovoltaic panel ; Green roof ; Energy ; Coupling ; Mod{\'e}lisation ; Panneau photovolta{\"i}que ; Toiture v{\'e}g{\'e}tale ; {\'E}nergie ; Couplage},
  type = {Theses},
  hal_id = {tel-04221577},
  hal_version = {v1},
}

Conference

Simulation of a rooftop photovoltaic system: a focus on the energy performance of the building

Thomas Villemin, Alex Royer , Olivier Farges , and 2 more authors

In International Heat Transfer Conference 17 , Jun 2023

doi: 10.1615/IHTC17.100-10

Bib PDF

@inproceedings{villemin2023simulation,
  title = {Simulation of a rooftop photovoltaic system: a focus on the energy performance of the building},
  author = {Villemin, Thomas and Royer, Alex and Farges, Olivier and Parent, Gilles and Claverie, Remy},
  booktitle = {International Heat Transfer Conference 17},
  pages = {10},
  year = {2023},
  doi = {10.1615/IHTC17.100-10},
  organization = {Begellhouse}
}

Conference

Experimental study and numerical simulations of the airflow around a photovoltaic panel in urban configuration

Thomas Villemin, Julien Bouyer , Rémy Claverie , and 2 more authors

In The 11th International Conference on Urban Climate , Aug 2023

URL: https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/hal-04414900

Bib PDF

@inproceedings{villemin:hal-04414900,
  title = {{Experimental study and numerical simulations of the airflow around a photovoltaic panel in urban configuration}},
  author = {Villemin, Thomas and Bouyer, Julien and Claverie, R{\'e}my and Parent, Gilles and Sabre, Maeva},
  url = {https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/hal-04414900},
  booktitle = {{The 11th International Conference on Urban Climate}},
  address = {Sydney, Australia},
  year = {2023},
  month = aug,
  hal_id = {hal-04414900},
  hal_version = {v1},
}

2022

Renewable Energy
Thermal characterization of a photovoltaic panel under controlled conditions

Thomas Villemin, Rémy Claverie , Jean-Paul Sawicki , and 1 more author

Renewable Energy, Aug 2022

doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.08.036

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148122012022

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To avoid large variability in environmental factors, the thermal and electrical behavior of a 310 W PV panel exposed to a 6 kW halogen light source was studied in a 48 m3 climatic room. The physical quantities measured were panel temperature (front and back), radiation illuminating the panel, ambient temperature, air speed, panel current and panel voltage. Under these conditions, it was possible to estimate the thermal constant of the panel at 9 minutes. The effect of forced convection on the panel temperature was quantified using a fan. The results obtained confirm that the panel temperature decreases exponentially with air speed. The part of the incident radiation that is converted into electricity and therefore does not contribute to the heating of the panel was quantified. The results show that the front panel temperature decreases by about 3°C and the rear panel temperature by about 3.7°C when the system produces electricity. The Maximum Power Point from I–V and P–V characteristics was studied for different PV temperatures to confirm the linear decay of the electrical efficiency with increasing cell temperature.
@article{VILLEMIN202228, title = {Thermal characterization of a photovoltaic panel under controlled conditions}, journal = {Renewable Energy}, volume = {198}, pages = {28-40}, year = {2022}, issn = {0960-1481}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.08.036}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148122012022}, author = {Villemin, Thomas and Claverie, Rémy and Sawicki, Jean-Paul and Parent, Gilles}, keywords = {PV module performance, Thermal study, Climatic room}, }
Magazine
Modélisation du bilan thermique d’un panneau photovoltaı̈que par la méthode de Monte Carlo et validation expérimentale

Thomas Villemin, Olivier Farges , Gilles Parent , and 2 more authors

Entropie: thermodynamique–énergie–environnement–économie, Aug 2022

doi: 10.21494/ISTE.OP.2022.0896

URL: http://www.openscience.fr/Modelisation-du-bilan-thermique-d-un-panneau-photovoltaique-par-la-methode-de

Abs Bib

L’impact négatif de l’augmentation de la température d’un panneau photovoltaïque sur sa production électrique est un phénomène bien connu. Le développement d’un modèle numérique du bilan thermique du panneau permet d’estimer sa température en intégrant temporellement les paramètres climatiques. Ce bilan est interprété de façon probabiliste par la méthode de Monte Carlo et donne accès à l’estimation de la température du système en un point sonde quelconque. Cette estimation de température est validée à l’aide de données expérimentales puis le modèle est exploité afin de déterminer la production électrique d’un panneau photovoltaïque de 310 W au mois d’octobre 2021.
@article{villemin2022modelisation, title = {Mod{\'e}lisation du bilan thermique d’un panneau photovolta{\"\i}que par la m{\'e}thode de Monte Carlo et validation exp{\'e}rimentale}, author = {Villemin, Thomas and Farges, Olivier and Parent, Gilles and Claverie, R{\'e}my and Bouyer, Julien}, journal = {Entropie: thermodynamique--{\'e}nergie--environnement--{\'e}conomie}, volume = {3}, number = {Numéro 3 spécial SFT Prix Biot-Fourier}, year = {2022}, url = {http://www.openscience.fr/Modelisation-du-bilan-thermique-d-un-panneau-photovoltaique-par-la-methode-de}, doi = {10.21494/ISTE.OP.2022.0896}, issn = {2634-1476} }

Congress

Modélisation électrique d’une cellule photovoltaı̈que et interprétation physique renouvelée à l’aide d’espaces de chemins

Thomas Villemin, Daniel Yaacoub , Jean-François Cornet , and 4 more authors

In Journées Nationales de l’Energie Solaire , Aug 2022

Bib

@inproceedings{villemin2022modelisatioo,
  title = {Mod{\'e}lisation {\'e}lectrique d’une cellule photovolta{\"\i}que et interpr{\'e}tation physique renouvel{\'e}e {\`a} l’aide d’espaces de chemins},
  author = {Villemin, Thomas and Yaacoub, Daniel and Cornet, Jean-Fran{\c{c}}ois and Dauchet, J{\'e}r{\'e}mi and Farges, Olivier and Vaillon, Rodolphe and Vourc’h, Thomas},
  booktitle = {Journ{\'e}es Nationales de l'Energie Solaire},
  year = {2022}
}

Congress

Photo-génération, transfert et conversion d’énergie électronique en espaces de chemins pour le design inverse de procédés solaires

Daniel Yaacoub , Thomas Villemin, Jean-François Cornet , and 4 more authors

In Quatrièmes Journées Annuelles , Aug 2022

Bib

@inproceedings{yaacoub2022photo,
  title = {Photo-g{\'e}n{\'e}ration, transfert et conversion d'{\'e}nergie {\'e}lectronique en espaces de chemins pour le design inverse de proc{\'e}d{\'e}s solaires},
  author = {Yaacoub, Daniel and Villemin, Thomas and Cornet, Jean-Fran{\c{c}}ois and Dauchet, J{\'e}r{\'e}mi and Farges, Olivier and Vaillon, Rodolphe and Vourc’h, Thomas},
  booktitle = {Quatri{\`e}mes Journ{\'e}es Annuelles},
  year = {2022}
}

2021

Congress

Modélisation et intégration temporelle d’un problème thermique couplé par la méthode de Monte-Carlo

Thomas Villemin, Olivier Farges , Gilles Parent , and 2 more authors

In Congrès Annuel de la Société Française de Thermique , Aug 2021

Bib PDF

@inproceedings{villemin2021modelisation,
  title = {Mod{\'e}lisation et int{\'e}gration temporelle d'un probl{\`e}me thermique coupl{\'e} par la m{\'e}thode de Monte-Carlo},
  author = {Villemin, Thomas and Farges, Olivier and Parent, Gilles and Claverie, R{\'e}my and Bouyer, Julien},
  booktitle = {Congr{\`e}s Annuel de la Soci{\'e}t{\'e} Fran{\c{c}}aise de Thermique},
  year = {2021}
}