The impact of coloured filters on the performance of polycrystalline photovoltaic panel in an uncontrolled environment

Abstract

Photovoltaic modules behave extraordinarily by transforming part of the visible spectrum into electrical energy, and their efficiencies are affected by the nature of radiation (light) reaching them. When light strikes a photovoltaic cell, this light may go through the cell without been absorbed if it is too energetic or if the light possesses low energy it will be absorbed by the cell and cause the electrons to twist and vibrate in their bonds without dislodging them, hence causing the cell to heat up which ultimately leads to a decrease in its overall efficiency. This study is aimed to investigate how photovoltaics respond to different wavelengths of light. For the study to achieve its aim, colour filters were used to ensure that only a particular wavelength of light reaches the photovoltaic module at a time. In the process of collecting data from the solar panel, the solar panel was placed horizontally flat on a platform one meter above sea level facing the sun. Data was first obtained from the solar panel without the filters and after that with the filters placed one at a time and data collected accordingly. The amount of solar power and solar flux anytime a different colour filter was placed on the solar panel were measured. Among the coloured filter used yellow produced the highest efficiency, while blue produced the least efficiency. However, the solar panel was still more efficient when exposed to the natural spectrum.

Evaluation of the Performance of Photovoltaic System under different Wavelengths from Artificial Light in a Controlled Environment

“…Red, green, and blue gave the same voltage of 18.26V. Figure 2 which confirms that the PV panel voltage output for the natural spectrum is the highest compared to other wavelengths, agrees with researches by (Kazem and Chaichan, 2016) and (Njok et al, 2020c). Figure 3 depicts the current produced by the PV module with different wavelengths of light.…”

“…The presented methodology enables the photovoltaic module not to be influenced by any other wavelengths but one. Comparing with methodology presented in reference by (Kazem and Chaichan, 2016) and (Njok, et al, 2020c), there is a time lag in changing from one color filter to another and this time lag enables the photovoltaic module to absorb radiation from the natural spectrum which may influence the photovoltaic response to the next color filter. Hence the results obtained with this methodology tends to be free of any uncertainty that may have occurred due to the presence of time lags as noticed in referenced (Kazem and Chaichan, 2016) and (Njok, et al, 2020c).…”

“…Comparing with methodology presented in reference by (Kazem and Chaichan, 2016) and (Njok, et al, 2020c), there is a time lag in changing from one color filter to another and this time lag enables the photovoltaic module to absorb radiation from the natural spectrum which may influence the photovoltaic response to the next color filter. Hence the results obtained with this methodology tends to be free of any uncertainty that may have occurred due to the presence of time lags as noticed in referenced (Kazem and Chaichan, 2016) and (Njok, et al, 2020c). The efficiency of the PV module is greatly influenced by several parameters including design and maintenance of the module and solar power, and may be determined by (1) as shown by (Njok, et al, 2020b), while the normalized power output efficiency and performance ratio was computed by ( 2) and ( 3) respectively as shown by (Ogbulezie, et al, 2020).…”

Solar energy: A panacea for the electricity generation crisis in Nigeria

“…The cost of oil, unnatural changes in climatic conditions (global warming), and the constant need for power supply have made the Nigerian government improve efforts towards adopting PV technology. As for now, solar PV systems are applied to specific areas in Nigeria "merely to provide additional power or to provide backup power in moments of fluctuating power supply or power outage" [43]; these areas include telecom masts, street lights, and parks, etc.…”

Diurnal analysis of enhanced solar photovoltaic systems using automatic cooling mechanism

“…Incidentally, Solar photovoltaic systems often produce higher electricity on a day with hazy sun and cool wind than when the sun is blazing and the temperature is high. On exposure to the sun, their temperature increases due to the absorption of infrared and other wavelengths of lights that adversely affect their efficiency [15]. Also, due to their dark nature photovoltaics can easily heat up quite considerably [16].…”