Energy Analysis on Using Airflow through a Porous Medium as Coolant of Photovoltaic Module; An Experimental Research

Abstract

The global energy crisis has convinced all governments to invest more in the use of renewable and sustainable energy sources. To achieve this goal, solar energy is more attractive due to its accessibility in most parts of the earth. Photovoltaic (PV) modules are used to convert sunlight into electricity. This technology has an important drawback, as the increase in PV cell temperature significantly reduces its electrical efficiency. This article provides a solution to overcome this issue to some extent. In this regard, the effects of using both porous media and wind stream are evaluated, experimentally. Three different thicknesses of aluminum porous medium 0.5, 2 and 4 cm are investigated with and without wind blowing at 2 km/h. The results indicate that the proposed cases pull down the module temperature between 3.9 ̊C to 18.3 ̊C. From energy point of view, when the 4 cm porous medium is used, 2.7% and 6.6% enhancement are attained in electrical efficiency and output power, respectively. The second law of thermodynamics was also applied and the maximum drop of 8.3% in entropy generation was calculated. The last part of this paper reports an overall comparison of the present results with those of other similar experimental papers.