Photovoltaic backside cooling using the space inside a conventional frame (IPCOSY)
Corresponding Author(s) : Ryan Bugeja
Future Energy,
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2023): August 2023 Issue
Abstract
Inefficiencies present in solar cells result in most of the absorbed energy being converted into heat, causing an increase in cell temperature, which leads to a further reduction in efficiency. Various cooling technologies can be found in the literature; however, these all come with their own challenges. In this research, we have designed a Photovoltaic (PV) panel that incorporates backside water cooling by creating a water chamber in the empty space inside the Aluminium frame. This panel was termed IPCoSy (Innovative Photovoltaic Cooling System). It was tested against a conventional cooling system that allowed water to drain when the cooling is switched off and a non-cooled control panel, and the results show that, even without any flow, a daily energy gain of about 3% is possible. When a controlled flow was introduced, gains of up to 10% were achieved. These gains can be further increased when IPCoSy is installed in ideal scenarios such as reverse osmosis plants, floating PV installations, or areas requiring water heating. Therefore, this research presents a new photovoltaic panel incorporating a water chamber designed for hot climate conditions.
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- Bahaidarah H, Subhan A, Gandhidasan P, Rehman S. Performance evaluation of a PV (photovoltaic) module by back surface water cooling for hot climatic conditions. Energy 2013;59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.07.050.
- Shukla A, Kant K, Sharma A, Biwole PH. Cooling methodologies of photovoltaic module for enhancing electrical efficiency: A review. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 2017;160:275–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.10.047.
- Siecker J, Kusakana K, Numbi BP. A review of solar photovoltaic systems cooling technologies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2017;79:192–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.053.
- Radziemska E. The effect of temperature on the power drop in crystalline silicon solar cells. Renew Energy 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(02)00015-0.
- Hasanuzzaman M, Malek ABMA, Islam MM, Pandey AK, Rahim NA. Global advancement of cooling technologies for PV systems: A review. Sol Energy 2016;137:25–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.07.010.
- Boussaid M, Belghachi A, Agroui K, Abdelaoui M, Otmani M. Solar cell degradation under open circuit condition in out-doors-in desert region. Results Phys 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2016.09.013.
- Farrugia A. Design and analysis of different cooling effects on photovoltaic panels. University of Malta, 2014.
- Hadipour A, Rajabi Zargarabadi M, Rashidi S. An efficient pulsed- spray water cooling system for photovoltaic panels: Experimental study and cost analysis. Renew Energy 2021;164:867–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.021.
- Fakouriyan S, Saboohi Y, Fathi A. Experimental analysis of a cooling system effect on photovoltaic panels’ efficiency and its preheating water production. Renew Energy 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.09.054.
- Shalaby SM, Elfakharany MK, Moharram BM, Abosheiasha HF. Experimental study on the performance of PV with water cooling. Energy Reports 2022;8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.11.155.
- Moharram KA, Abd-Elhady MS, Kandil HA, El-Sherif H. Enhancing the performance of photovoltaic panels by water cooling. Ain Shams Eng J 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2013.03.005.
- ANHUI SUNWAY NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. 320W-350W 72 Cells Mono Solar Panel For Solar Power System n.d. https://www.solarsunever.com/320w-350w-72-cells-mono-solar-panel-for-solar-power-system_p44.html (accessed December 5, 2022).
References
Bahaidarah H, Subhan A, Gandhidasan P, Rehman S. Performance evaluation of a PV (photovoltaic) module by back surface water cooling for hot climatic conditions. Energy 2013;59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.07.050.
Shukla A, Kant K, Sharma A, Biwole PH. Cooling methodologies of photovoltaic module for enhancing electrical efficiency: A review. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 2017;160:275–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.10.047.
Siecker J, Kusakana K, Numbi BP. A review of solar photovoltaic systems cooling technologies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2017;79:192–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.053.
Radziemska E. The effect of temperature on the power drop in crystalline silicon solar cells. Renew Energy 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(02)00015-0.
Hasanuzzaman M, Malek ABMA, Islam MM, Pandey AK, Rahim NA. Global advancement of cooling technologies for PV systems: A review. Sol Energy 2016;137:25–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.07.010.
Boussaid M, Belghachi A, Agroui K, Abdelaoui M, Otmani M. Solar cell degradation under open circuit condition in out-doors-in desert region. Results Phys 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2016.09.013.
Farrugia A. Design and analysis of different cooling effects on photovoltaic panels. University of Malta, 2014.
Hadipour A, Rajabi Zargarabadi M, Rashidi S. An efficient pulsed- spray water cooling system for photovoltaic panels: Experimental study and cost analysis. Renew Energy 2021;164:867–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.021.
Fakouriyan S, Saboohi Y, Fathi A. Experimental analysis of a cooling system effect on photovoltaic panels’ efficiency and its preheating water production. Renew Energy 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.09.054.
Shalaby SM, Elfakharany MK, Moharram BM, Abosheiasha HF. Experimental study on the performance of PV with water cooling. Energy Reports 2022;8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.11.155.
Moharram KA, Abd-Elhady MS, Kandil HA, El-Sherif H. Enhancing the performance of photovoltaic panels by water cooling. Ain Shams Eng J 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2013.03.005.
ANHUI SUNWAY NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. 320W-350W 72 Cells Mono Solar Panel For Solar Power System n.d. https://www.solarsunever.com/320w-350w-72-cells-mono-solar-panel-for-solar-power-system_p44.html (accessed December 5, 2022).