Development of an Installation to Reduce the Temperature of Photovoltaic Modules and Improve Their Efficiency (original) (raw)

Review of cooling techniques used to enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic power systems

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2022

Photovoltaic (PV) panels are one of the most important solar energy sources used to convert the sun’s radiation falling on them into electrical power directly. Many factors affect the functioning of photovoltaic panels, including external factors and internal factors. External factors such as wind speed, incident radiation rate, ambient temperature, and dust accumulation on the PV cannot be controlled. The internal factors can be controlled, such as PV surface temperature. Some of the radiation falling on the surface of the PV cell turns into electricity, while the remainder of incident radiation is absorbed inside the PV cell. This, in turn, elevates its surface temperature. Undesirably, the higher panel temperature, the lower conversion performance, and lesser reliability over the long term occur. Hence, many cooling systems have been designed and investigated, aiming to effectively avoid the excessive temperature rise and enhance their efficiency. Many cooling methods are used to...

Case study on the efficiency improvement of photovoltaic panels by cooling

Technium: Romanian Journal of Applied Sciences and Technology, 2020

The paper presents a numerical study of the operation of photovoltaic panels integrated in ventilated facades of the buildings. In these circumstances, the position of the panels is fixed all the time and the possibility of the raising of the conversion efficiency is analysed from the point of view of the operating temperature of the photovoltaic cells. The model and the functioning parameters are obtained using TRNSYS software. The solution proposed for cooling the panels consistsin using waterheat exchangers attached to the backside of the photovoltaic panel.

Cooling techniques for enhancing of photovoltaic cell efficiency: Review

1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The current energy requirements are mostly met by fossil fuels and non-renewable sources which are depleting at rapid rate besides being emitters of greenhouse gases, so the solutions depend on renewable energy. Solar energy is one of these clean renewable energies, that are inexhaustible and has no emissions. The solar radiation falling on the photovoltaic cells, part of it converted into electrical energy and the other part of this radiation converted into heat, which causes decrease in the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell. In general, the performance of photovoltaic cells decreases by 0.5% for each degree of temperature rise, and this depends on the type and material of photovoltaic cells used. Therefore, it was necessary to solve this problem by controlling the operating temperature by various cooling techniques, especially in areas with high temperatures, in order to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic cells. This work, has been reviewed the studies and research conducted in recent years on cooling techniques and controlling the operating temperature of photovoltaic cells and analyzed the results. These methods include natural air cooling, forced air cooling, passive water cooling, active water cooling, and pcm cooling. The results showed that forced cooling methods (forced cooling with water or air) are more efficient than passive methods, as expected. However, active cooling methods require costs for construction and maintenance, in addition it consume energy, so it is possible to replace passive cooling instead of active cooling because passive cooling may lead to more energy gain in some cases than active cooling if the energy consumed for pumping in the active cooling is taken into consideration and reduce the costs. The using of hybrid cooling photovoltaic / thermal system (pv \ t), the active cooling is better than the passive cooling because the heat rejected can be used. As for areas that have very hot climate, it is preferable to use front cooling with water, as it considered more economical. Cooling with phase change materials increases the efficiency of energy production and also gives an opportunity to use thermal energy. But this method is less efficient of other methods and the cost of installing it is high.

A comparative study on photovoltaic/thermal systems with various cooling methods

Materials Today: Proceedings, 2022

Nowadays Photovoltaic (PV) is the most promising technology for converting solar radiation into electricity. The main drawback of PV technology is lesser efficiency as compared to conventional powergenerating technologies. Generally, PV efficiency decreases as temperature increases, with a magnitude of about 0.5%/°C. This drawback can be resolved with a proper cooling technique that has been proposed in recent years. Numerous cooling techniques have been developed, and most of them are based on active water and air cooling because they are the simplest. This article aims to discuss the recent developments in PV panel cooling techniques and thermal management. The improvement in electrical efficiency depends upon the proper cooling techniques, capacity, type of PV module, and yearly climate condition of the locations which often results in a 3-5% improvement. The cooling techniques should be designed for PV systems in such a way that is simple to install, reliable, natural in their effectiveness, and maintain a low solar cell temperature.

Enhancing the Efficiency of Solar Panel Using Cooling Systems

The recent upsurge in the demand of photovoltaic systems is due to the fact that they produce electric power without causing much damage to the environment by directly converting the solar radiation into electric power. Solar energy is completely natural, it is considered as a clean energy source. So the study on enhancing the efficiency of solar panel is very necessary. Photovoltaic cells get overheated due to excessive solar radiation and ambient temperature. Therefore to rectify this problem different cooling systems are used so as to maintain the temperature of the cells

Enhancing the performance of photovoltaic panels by water cooling

Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 2013

The objective of the research is to minimize the amount of water and electrical energy needed for cooling of the solar panels, especially in hot arid regions, e.g., desert areas in Egypt. A cooling system has been developed based on water spraying of PV panels. A mathematical model has been used to determine when to start cooling of the PV panels as the temperature of the panels reaches the maximum allowable temperature (MAT). A cooling model has been developed to determine how long it takes to cool down the PV panels to its normal operating temperature, i.e., 35°C, based on the proposed cooling system. Both models, the heating rate model and the cooling rate model, are validated experimentally. Based on the heating and cooling rate models, it is found that the PV panels yield the highest output energy if cooling of the panels starts when the temperature of the PV panels reaches a maximum allowable temperature (MAT) of 45°C. The MAT is a compromise temperature between the output energy from the PV panels and the energy needed for cooling.

A Review - Solar Panel Cooling Technique

The working condition of Photovoltaic (PV) systems is enemy of itself. The essential input sunlight to generating electricity with PV, performance decreases as the operating temperature goes higher. This review work is study of the latest literature research works context to achieving improved efficiency through appropriate cooling systems. The research work can be divided two parts enhancing the efficiency of the solar PV systems and ensuring an increase in life. It is found while reading that with the passive cooling systems temperature of PV module in the range of 6-20 0 C is reduced with an improvement in electrical efficiency up to 15.5% maximum & with active cooling systems temperature reduce by 30 0 C aslo improves in electrical efficiency up to 22% maximum . With active additional thermal energy output with efficiency reaching as high as 60%. Based on the this review, it may be predicted that with the swelling growth of solar PV electricity worldwide, the compatible cooling system is becoming important in order to ensure better energy harvest and utilization.

A review of photovoltaic cells cooling techniques

E3S Web of Conferences, 2017

This paper highlights different cooling techniques to reduce the operating temperature of the PV cells. This review paper focuses on the improvement of the performance of the small domestic use PV systems by keeping the temperature of the cells as low as possible and uniform. Different cooling techniques have been investigated experimentally and numerically the impact of the operating temperature of the cells on the electrical and thermal performance of the PV systems. The advantages and disadvantages of ribbed wall heat sink cooling, array air duct cooling installed beneath the PV panel, water spray cooling technique and back surface water cooling are examined in this paper to identify their effective impact on the PV panel performance. It was identified that the water spray cooling system has a proper impact on the PV panel performance. So the water cooling is one way to enhance the electrical efficiency of the PV panel.

Effect of cooling on power generated by photovoltaic panels

IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 2021

The paper presents a numerical analysis of the operation of photovoltaic (PV) panels integrated in fixed position on the roofs or facades of the buildings. Knowing that the efficiency of photovoltaic panels is temperature-dependent, and due to fixed PV panel position, the possibility of the improving the conversion is analysed from the point of view of the temperature of the PV cells. The model is simulated using TRNSYS software and the main functioning parameters assessed are the operating temperature of the cells, open circuit voltage, maximum power generated and conversion efficiency. The solution proposed for cooling consists in using water heat exchangers attached to the backside of the photovoltaic panel. The results highlight the direct dependence of the photovoltaic efficiency with the temperature of the panel for different positions in the same geographical location. The energy gain during the cooling interval is about 26.9 Wh/m2 (vertical), 81.9 Wh/m2 (inclined) and 81.7 W...

Methodologies Employed to Cool Photovoltaic Modules for Enhancing Efficiency: A Review

Anbar Journal of Engineering Sciences

Photovoltaic cells are one of the renewable energy sources that have been employed to produce electrical energy from solar radiation falling on them, but not all incident radiate will produce electrical energy, part of those radiate cause the panel temperature to rise, reducing its efficiency and its operational life, unless an attempt is made to employ one of the traditional cooling methods or innovating other methods to cooling it to reduce this effect, which it represented in the active and passive cooling method. In fact, it is difficult to compare the active method with the passive method, as each method has its Advantages and disadvantages that may suit one region without another. But in general, there are basic factors through which at least a comparison between the two methods can be made. Relatively the passive method is less expensive, in addition to no need for additional parts such as pumps and controllers, there is no energy consumption because it does not require power. But it is less effective and efficient than the active method, while the active method has the ability to disperse the heat higher than the passive method. However, it necessitates the use of electricity and is frequently costlier than the passive strategy. In this review, the most common active and passive cases were reviewed, and the pros and cons of each case are summarized in discussion due to the difficulty to list them. The review recommends that future studies should focus on active water cooling and heat-sink, both of which are viable cooling strategies.