scholarly journals Assessing the Impact of Water Cooling on PV Modules Efficiency

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Luboń ◽  
Grzegorz Pełka ◽  
Mirosław Janowski ◽  
Leszek Pająk ◽  
Michał Stefaniuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Water Film ◽  
Temperature Decrease ◽  
Water Cooling ◽  
Continuous Cooling ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Power Increase ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
The Impact

The article presents the results of research on the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) modules cooled with water. The aim of the experiment was to improve the working conditions of solar modules. A temperature decrease was obtained for the PV module by pouring cool tap water onto the upper surface of the modules, either in imitation of rain or as a water film. The power of the cooled and non-cooled devices were then compared. The temperature of the cooled modules dropped to almost 25 °C, whilst the temperature of the non-cooled module was 45 °C. The best results were achieved by cooling modules with a water film, since there were no water splashes, and the continuous cooling of the surface leads to a 20% increase in power. During the test, the non-cooled module attained a maximum power of 105.3 W/m2, compared to 125.5 W/m2 for its cooled counterpart. Cooling the module, therefore, resulted in a power increase of 20.2 W/m2. The results of the work may be of particular interest for small installations, especially because it cleans the modules while providing an increase in power.

scholarly journals Analysis of the cooling of PV modules with water on their efficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 154 ◽  
pp. 05006
Author(s):  
Wojciech Luboń ◽  
Mirosław Janowski ◽  
Grzegorz Pełka ◽  
Paweł Reczek
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Water Film ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Cell Temperature ◽  
Photovoltaic Modules ◽  
Continuous Cooling ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Pv Modules

The article presents the results of research on the efficiency of photovoltaic modules cooled by water. The purpose of the experiment was to improve the working conditions of the solar cells. Lowering the cell temperature increases the power generated by the device. The decrease in the temperature of the PV module was obtained by pouring water on the upper surface of the cells, as rain imitation or a water film. The power of the cooled and non-cooled devices were compared. The best results were achieved by cooling cells with a water film since there were no water splashes. The continuous cooling of cells surface causes a 20% increase of device's power. During the test, the non-cooled module reached the maximum power of 172 W, while the cooled one - 205 W. Cooling the module resulted in an increase in power by 33 W. In addition, the temperature of the cells dropped to almost 25°C. At this time, the temperature of the non-cooled module was 45°C. The presented solution may be an interesting proposition for small installations. The solution can also be an alternative for cleaning the modules due to the improvement in the power of the module after the test in terms of their power before.

scholarly journals Modeling of Photovoltaic Module Using the MATLAB

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 59-69
Author(s):  
Alok Dhaundiyal ◽  
Divine Atsu
Keyword(s):  
Standard Test ◽  
Electrical Performance ◽  
Photovoltaic Module ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Mathematical Model

This paper presents the modeling and simulation of the characteristics and electrical performance of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Genetic coding is applied to obtain the optimized values of parameters within the constraint limit using the software MATLAB. A single diode model is proposed, considering the series and shunt resistances, to study the impact of solar irradiance and temperature on the power-voltage (P-V) and current-voltage (I-V) characteristics and predict the output of solar PV modules. The validation of the model under the standard test conditions (STC) and different values of temperature and insolation is performed, as well as an evaluation using experimentally obtained data from outdoor operating PV modules. The obtained results are also subjected to comply with the manufacturer’s data to ensure that the proposed model does not violate the prescribed tolerance range. The range of variation in current and voltage lies in the domain of 8.21 – 8.5 A and 22 – 23 V, respectively; while the predicted solutions for current and voltage vary from 8.28 – 8.68 A and 23.79 – 24.44 V, respectively. The measured experimental power of the PV module estimated to be 148 – 152 W is predicted from the mathematical model and the obtained values of simulated solution are in the domain of 149 – 157 W. The proposed scheme was found to be very effective at determining the influence of input factors on the modules, which is difficult to determine through experimental means.

Design and implementation of a directly cooled PV/T

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-379
Author(s):  
Busiso Mtunzi ◽  
Edson L. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid System ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Water Cooling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Water Ingress ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to design and implement a directly cooled photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) hybrid system. Design/methodology/approach – The research design subjects, instruments and methods that were used to collect data are as detailed in the paper. Two polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) modules were used in this study. Findings – The directly water-cooled PV module (PV/T) was found to operate better as compared to a naturally cooled module for the first three months. The PV/T initially operated at a higher electrical efficiency for 87 per cent of the day. The monthly energy-saving efficiency of the PV/T was found to be approximately 61 per cent, while the solar utilisation of the naturally cooled PV module M1 was found to be 8.79 per cent and that of M2 was 47.93 per cent. Research limitations/implications – The major limitation was the continued drop in efficiency after the first three months of the PV/T placed outdoors. The fall in the efficiency was attributed to water ingress. Practical implications – Direct water cooling of PV modules is possible, only that a better sealing is needed to prevent water ingress. Originality/value – PV air cooling has been researched on. Use of water as a cooling medium has been carried out using serpentine pipes or riser tube, and no direct water cooling on the back of the module has been researched on.

scholarly journals Experiment-based Study on the Impact of Soiling on PV System’s Performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 810
Author(s):  
Wan Juzaili Jamil ◽  
Hasimah Abdul Rahman ◽  
Kyairul Azmi Baharin
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Climate ◽  
System Efficiency ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Solar Photovoltaics ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
Dust Loading ◽  
Module Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Full Day

Soiling refers to the accumulation of dust on PV modules which plays a small but significant role in degrading solar photovoltaics system efficiency. Its effect cannot be generalized because the severity is location and environment dependent. Currently, there are limited studies available on the soiling effect in the hot and humid Malaysian tropical climate. This paper presents an experimental-based approach to investigate the effect of soiling on PV module performance in a tropical climate. The experiment involved a full day exposure of a polycrystalline PV module in the outdoors with accelerated artificial dust loading and an indoor experiment for testing variable dust dimensions. The findings show that for the worst case, the module’s output can be reduced by as much as 20%.

scholarly journals Sustainable End of Life Management of Crystalline Silicon and Thin Film Solar Photovoltaic Waste: The Impact of Transportation

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 5465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilke Celik ◽  
Marina Lunardi ◽  
Austen Frederickson ◽  
Richard Corkish
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
United States ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hotspot Analysis ◽  
Material Recovery ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
The Impact

This work provides economic and environmental analyses of transportation-related impacts of different photovoltaic (PV) module technologies at their end-of-life (EoL) phase. Our results show that crystalline silicon (c-Si) modules are the most economical PV technology (United States Dollars (USD) 2.3 per 1 m2 PV module (or 0.87 ¢/W) for transporting in the United States for 1000 km). Furthermore, we found that the financial costs of truck transportation for PV modules for 2000 km are only slightly more than for 1000 km. CO2-eq emissions associated with transport are a significant share of the EoL impacts, and those for copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) PV modules are always higher than for c-Si and CdTe PV. Transportation associated CO2-eq emissions contribute 47%, 28%, and 40% of overall EoL impacts of c-Si, CdTe, and CIGS PV wastes, respectively. Overall, gasoline-fueled trucks have 65–95% more environmental impacts compared to alternative transportation options of the diesel and electric trains and ships. Finally, a hotspot analysis on the entire life cycle CO2-eq emissions of different PV technologies showed that the EoL phase-related emissions are more significant for thin-film PV modules compared to crystalline silicon PV technologies and, so, more environmentally friendly material recovery methods should be developed for thin film PV.

scholarly journals Reliability Study of c-Si PV Module Mounted on a Concrete Slab by Thermal Cycling Using Electroluminescence Scanning: Application in Future Solar Roadways

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firoz Khan ◽  
Béchir Dridi Rezgui ◽  
Jae Hyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Cycling ◽  
Concrete Slab ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Real Field ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
The Real ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
Degradation Behaviors ◽  
The Impact

Several tests were conducted to ratify the reliability and durability of the solar photovoltaic (PV) devices before deployment in the real field (non-ideal conditions). In the real field, the temperature of the PV modules was varied during the day and night. Nowadays, people have been bearing in mind the deployment of PV modules on concrete roads to make use of the space accessible on roads. In this regard, a comparative study on the failure and degradation behaviors of crystalline Si PV modules with and without a concrete slab was executed via a thermal cycling stress test. The impact of the concrete slab on the performance degradation of PV modules was evaluated. Electroluminescence (EL) results showed that the defect due to thermal cycling (TC) stress was reduced in the PV module with a concrete slab. The power loss due to the thermal cycling was reduced by approximately 1% using a concrete slab for 200 cycles. The Rsh value was reduced to approximately 91% and 71% after thermal cycling of 200 cycles for reference PV modules, respectively. The value of I0 was increased to approximately 3.1 and 2.9 times the initial value for the PV modules without and with concrete, respectively.

The Impact Mitigation of Partial Shading on PV Array Power Generation

2015 ◽  
Vol 781 ◽  
pp. 267-271
Author(s):  
Santisouk Phiouthonekham ◽  
Anucha Lekkruasuwan ◽  
Surachai Chaitusaney
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Partial Shading ◽  
Pv Array ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
The Impact

The impact of partial shading on photovoltaic (PV) array is discussed in this paper. The partial shading on PV array can significantly decrease the power generation of PV array. This study examines the modeling of PV module which relates with solar irradiation, temperature, and shading pattern. There are different shading patterns on PV array, such as one-string shading, two-strings shading, and much more. The characteristics of current-voltage (I-V) and voltage-power (V-P) curves for each individual the PV array can be different dependent on the multiple MPPs, maximum power points (MPPs). These multiple MPPs are basically lower than the MPP in case of no shading. Therefore, the total generated energy in an interested time period is usually reduced. As a result, this paper proposes the appropriate arrangement of PV modules in a PV array in order to mitigate the impact of partial shading. Finally, the proposed arrangement of PV modules is tested in a testing system. All the obtained results confirms that the proposed arrangement of PV modules is effective and can be applied in practice.

scholarly journals Effect of Wind Load on Performance of Photovoltaic (PV) Modules Available in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 860-866
Author(s):  
Rizwan Mehmood Gul ◽  
Fahad Ullah Zafar ◽  
Muhammad Ali Kamran ◽  
Muhammad Noman
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Mechanical Load ◽  
Wind Load ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Load Test ◽  
Mechanical Integrity ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
Iec 61215 ◽  
The Impact

Mechanical integrity of a Photovoltaic (PV) module plays a major role in its performance and electrical output. Mechanical loads which include loads produced by wind, snow, rain, and hail tend to degrade the performance of PV module by generating stresses and enhancing micro-cracks and defects. This research aims to investigate the impact of wind loads on the performance of PV modules, particularly the degradation in its power output. A load of 2400 Pa was applied as per international standards (ASTM E1830-15 and IEC-61215). A total of four PV module samples, of the same specifications with 60 W rated power, were initially subjected to solar flash testing and Electroluminescence (EL) imaging. This was followed by three cycles of mechanical load test. After the mechanical load tests, the modules were again subjected to solar flash testing and EL imaging and the results were compared. It was noted that static wind load degrades the mechanical integrity of photovoltaic modules in two ways; by aiding the propagation of existing cracks and initiating new cracks. This loss of mechanical integrity degraded the power output of PV module. Maximum drop of 2% in the power output and 0.27% in the efficiency was observed. In addition, the average increase of 3.37% in the series resistance was observed indicating decrease in performance.

Enhancing the Performance of Photovoltaic Solar Modules by Active Thermal Management

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Rodgers ◽  
Valerie Eveloy ◽  
Shrinivas Bojanampati
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Cooling Water ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Water Cooling ◽  
Ambient Air Temperature ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Pv Modules

The electrical efficiency and reliability of photovoltaic (PV) modules are severely limited by elevated cell operating temperature in high solar irradiation and ambient air temperature environments, such as in the Middle East. In this study the potential of water-cooling to improve the electrical performance of stationary south facing and sun-tracked flat-type PV modules is experimentally investigated for application at oil and gas facilities in the Persian Gulf. The cooling design is based on gravity-assisted water trickling over the module active surface. In parallel with measurements of PV module electrical characteristics, global solar irradiation, ambient air and cooling water temperatures are also recorded. From the results obtained, the following initial guidelines are derived for the operation of PV modules in late winter to early spring conditions (G ≈ 485–900 W/m2, T∞ ≈ 26–40°C) in the United Arab Emirates (24.43°N, 54.45°E), which would correspond to summer at for example mid European latitudes: i) vertical single-axis sun tracking improves module peak electrical power output by 6% to 10% compared to operation in stationary, geographical south facing orientation, for both passively- or water-cooled modules; ii) for cooling water temperatures ranging from 26 to 33°C, water-cooling enhances the power output of stationary south facing and sun-tracked modules for a significant portion of the day, up to 19.8 W (21%) at solar noon; iii) the integration of water-cooling and sun-tracking increases power output by 22 W (26%) at for example 10:30 a.m. relative to a stationary, passively-cooled module. For the latitude and seasonal conditions considered, water-cooling a stationary PV module is 9 to 15% more effective than sun-tracking a passively-cooled module in terms of peak power output. Higher performance improvements could be obtained using either chilled or underground water at a temperature below ambient air temperature, particularly in Middle East summer conditions.

scholarly journals Experimental Effect of the Impact of Stagnant Water on Solar Modules

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 2095-2100
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Output Voltage ◽  
Operating Temperature ◽  
Output Current ◽  
Stagnant Water ◽  
Pv Module ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
Experimental Effect ◽  
The Impact

In this research, an experimental study of the impact of stagnant water on solar modules is investigated. Two different experiments using two identical photovoltaic (PV) modules S1 and S2 were used for the study. In the first experiment, the PV module S1 was covered with stagnant water and the second PV module was unshielded with water. In the second experiment, the PV modules were swapped with S2 covered with stagnant water and S1 unshielded with water. The experiments were carried out under normal operating temperature of PV cells at the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka on latitude 6:52 degrees north, longitude 7:23 degrees. Results obtained from the first experiment show that the efficiency and power output of S1 PV module decreased by 9.3% and 8.0% respectively when compared with that of S2 PV module. In the case of output voltage and current, it was found that shielding of PV module S1 with stagnant water caused an increase in the output voltage by 1.93% and a decrease in the output current by 10.26%. In the second experiment, the efficiency and Output power of PV module S2 decreased by 9.21% and 8.18% respectively when compared with the unshielded PV module S1. In the case of voltage and current, it was found that shielding of PV module S2 with stagnant water caused an increase in the Output voltage by 1.63% and decrease in the output current by 10.91%.

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