Effect of Evaporative Cooling on Photovoltaic Module Performance

Abstract

The photovoltaic module (PV) consists of many photovoltaic cells made of silicon that lose their properties with an increased temperature. Increasing photovoltaic cell temperature represents an intrinsic problem that causes a drop in the open-circuit voltage of the PV module, thus affecting its performance. The present work investigates using evaporating cooling as a passive cooling technique to absorb the generated heat from the PV module and lower its temperature by cotton wicks immersed in the water (CWIWs) attached to the backside photovoltaic module. The CWIWs decrease air dry temperature and increase humidity and then produce cool air to help cool PV modules. The results showed dropped PV module temperature by about 22% attributed to providing appropriate cooling produced by the moist condition of the cotton bristles immersed by water exposed to the wind. The output power generation and efficiency have increment by 16.3 W and 53%, respectively. The electrical exergy was equivalent to output power under the evaporating cooling, while entropy generation dropped about 14% with increased the PV module temperature.

Design, development and performance analysis of FSPV system for powering sustainable energy based mini micro-grid

“…Wang et al ( 2020 ) utilised the physics-based model for convective heat transfer for analysis of PV module under practical outdoor condition. Alktranee and Bencs ( 2022 ) presented the evaporative cooling effect on PV module due to convective heat transfer. The heat transfer due to convection ( ) is shown in Eq.…”

Air-Breathing Silicon PV Module Enabled by Internal Microfluidic Channels for Direct Cooling Application: A Validated Design Concept

“…13,14 The external fins made of aluminum were applied underneath the PV module with the help of thermal grease to act as a heat sink. 7 Furthermore, capillary-driven evaporation 18 and thermosyphon 19 effects were also applied to provide passive cooling with different kinds of recycling fluids, including nanofluids. 20 However, such cooling methods are not highly effective because they do not cool down the hot silicon solar cell directly but rather cool down the "external" surfaces of the Tedlar backsheet of the PV module.…”

“…The researchers also utilized thermal convection by installing tubes, channels, cooling pads, etcetera beneath the Tedlar backsheet of the PV module to enable heat removal from the modules and have reported improvements in the LHE. , The external fins made of aluminum were applied underneath the PV module with the help of thermal grease to act as a heat sink . Furthermore, capillary-driven evaporation and thermosyphon effects were also applied to provide passive cooling with different kinds of recycling fluids, including nanofluids . However, such cooling methods are not highly effective because they do not cool down the hot silicon solar cell directly but rather cool down the “external” surfaces of the Tedlar backsheet of the PV module.…”