Changes in the Electrical Output Power and Efficiency of a Photovoltaic Panel Cooled by a Hybrid Method

Abstract

During the process of generating electrical energy from photovoltaic panels, high ambient temperatures and radiation tend to cause excessive heating of the photovoltaic panel, resulting in a decrease in its efficiency. In this experimental study, two cooling methods were employed. The first method involved active cooling using water, while the second method combined active cooling with passive cooling using an aluminum heat sink, all while using water as the cooling medium. The experiment involved the analysis of changes in electrical output power and efficiency from three identical 100 W monocrystalline photovoltaic panels, one of which served as the reference. The first panel was considered the reference panel. The second panel featured active cooling, with a liquid reservoir created on its rear surface to be filled with transformer oil. Copper pipes were placed at specific intervals within this liquid reservoir, and the rear surface was covered with a thin flat metal plate. The third panel was prepared for the hybrid method, featuring a liquid reservoir covered with a rectangular finned aluminum heat sink, distinct from the second panel. In both methods, transformer oil was used for electrical insulation and thermal conduction between the panel and the copper pipes at the rear. The copper pipes were connected to an automotive radiator and a pump to form a closed circuit. The water inside the radiator was cooled using a radiator fan and circulated by a pump. In the first method, active cooling was achieved by cooling through the radiator, while in the hybrid method, active cooling through the radiator was combined with passive cooling using the rectangular finned aluminum heat sink. In the experiment setup, temperature and liquid flow were measured using radiation, electrical sensors, and other measuring instruments. The data obtained from the measurements were used to compare the increases in electrical power and efficiency of the panels. The electrical power increase and efficiency were calculated as follows: in the hybrid method, it was found to be 4.7% and 0.84%, respectively, while in the active method, it was 2.94% and 0.52%, respectively. The energy consumed in the study was provided by wind energy

Keywords

• Water cooling
• Electrical power increase
• Aluminum finned
• Heat sink
• Transformer oil

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