In spite of high solar radiation being an advantage for the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, the caused high surface temperature of the panel surface reduces their efficiency, as well as lifetime span due to cyclic thermal stresses. PV panels are deteriorating due to two setbacks from a harsh climate: shallow temperatures during the night leading to condensation and overheating during the day leading to reduced efficiency. The present paper discusses and resolves the two setbacks in the PV performance by cooling the panel during the day and heating the panel during the night using water circulation in a ground embedded heat exchanger. Experimental and numerical methods were used to carry out the investigation on the influence of the proposed technique on the PV performance. Following the experiments, a computational model has been developed to simulate the experimental set-up. Two PV modules have been tested simultaneously in outdoor environment; one is bare and the second is integrated with ground heat exchanger. Results revealed that the integrated heat exchanger has managed to reduce the PV surface temperature by around 8 o C during the daytime and rise the PV surface temperature by around 3 o C more than the due temperature, at which condensation takes place during the night time. The developed technique has proved to be highly efficient as a PV thermal control method.
Arid areas are characterized by high solar radiation, which is an advantage for the performance of photovoltaic (PV) panels. However, they are deteriorating by two setbacks from the harsh climate: shallow temperatures during the night, leading to condensation and overheating during the day, leading to reduced efficiency. The paper discusses and resolves the two setbacks in the performance by cooling the panel during the day and heating it during the night using a ground embedded heat exchanger. Experimental and numerical methods are adopted to carry out the investigation. For that, a numerical model was developed and subjected to a series of measurements. Two PV modules have been tested simultaneously; one is with thermal control system and the second without thermal control. A reduction in the PV surface temperature by around 8°C can be obtained during the daytime. The same system can rise the PV surface temperature by around 3°C more than the temperature at which condensation takes place.
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