Enhancing photovoltaic panel efficiency with innovative cooling Technologies: An experimental approach

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 253; p. 123846
• Main Authors: Nabil, Tamer, Mansour, Tamer M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15-09-2024
• Subjects: Cooling system; Efficiency; Marble; Palm fibers; Photovoltaic (PV); Thermoelectric cooler (TEC); Thermoelectric cooler (TEC); Photovoltaic (PV); Palm fibers; Marble; Efficiency; Cooling system
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.123846

•Different photovoltaic active cooling techniques were examined.•Local availability, low-cost natural materials like marble and palm fibers are used for photovoltaic cooling in remote hot areas.•Thermoelectric photovoltaic cooling exhibits the most promising studied technique.•Photovoltaic temperature is lowered by 16, 11.6, 9.8 °C, and efficiency is increased by 25.2, 15.7, 15.1% for thermoelectric, marble, and palm fibers cooling techniques, respectively.
The increase in photovoltaic panel temperature brought on by solar radiation absorption lowers performance, power output, energy efficiency, and panel longevity (a rise in temperature of just one degree causes power drop of 0.41 %). In an effort to alleviate this problem, this thorough study multiple novel cooling strategies to enhance solar system efficiency, especially photovoltaic panels in Egyptian climates remote areas. The three main routines for photovoltaic panel cooling are contingent on the following techniques: (1) evaporative cooling using marble, (2) evaporative cooling using palm fibers with fan-assisted airflow, and (3) thermoelectric cooler modules. These materials that used in the studied system as coolants are characterized by, abundant local availability in nature and low cost, especially in Egypt. Every method has been designed with a control system. According to the study, starting the cooling process at the greatest temperature that is permitted—45 °C—produces the maximum energy output from photovoltaic panels while balancing the need for cooling and energy production. Using these cooling methods causes the average temperature to be lowered by 16, 11.62, and 9.8 degrees Celsius for thermoelectric, marble, and palm fiber cooling respectively while the voltage output is enhanced by 2.58, 0.94, and 0.7 V. The recorded values indicate 4.59 %, 3.95 %, 2.15 % increase in photovoltaic panel exit power and 25.29 %, 15.79 %, and 15.1 % increase in photovoltaic panel energy conversion efficiency when thermoelectric, marble, and palm fibers cooler modules are used, respectively. This study is a priceless resource for scholars looking to improve photovoltaic panel performance by executing efficient cooling strategies with annual costs 0.017, 0.02, 0.026, and 0.024 $/kWh and payback periods 1.69, 2.07, 2.71, and 2.48 years for reference panel, marble cooling panel, palm fiber cooling pane, and thermoelectric cooling panel respectively.