Abstract
This work aims at analyzing and architecting natural and artificial parameters to model a water-film cooling system for photovoltaic modules for some months under warm conditions. Methodologically, the theoretical and technical aspects were structured to develop, implement, monitor, and assess the cooling system at an on-grid, outdoor testing unit, considering the following: (i) the criteria to select and to approve the implementation site (infrastructure and climatologic and solarimetric conditions); (ii) the types, frequency and qualities of the monitored data; (iii) the system measurement, monitoring and control equipment; (iv) the commissioning of the system as a whole; and (v) the tests and results empirically obtained. The water-film cooling system reduces the temperature by 15–19%, on average, and up to a maximum of 24–35%. In terms of electric power, there was an average gain of 5–9% at the time of day with the highest solar radiation, and maximum gains of 12% on days with solar radiation above average. Regarding gross energy, average gains of 2.3–6%, and maximum gains of 6.3–12%, were obtained. It was concluded that the test unit helps understand the natural phenomena and the development, operation, and maintenance of performance gain systems of on-grid PV modules for construction on a commercial scale.
Highlights
The availability and use of energy are fundamental requirements for the social and economic development of any region or country [1], so much so that for a country, energy planning has as priorities the increase in energy supply in the short term and possibly in the medium term to provide these fundamental needs [2]
The average amount of clouds at the site decreased from sunrise until around 11 a.m., subsequently presenting a monotonic increase until sunset, when it reaches the highest cloud cover [74], positively affecting the incidence of solar radiation in the PV modules
The variation of the solar radiation on the tilted surface of the modules [W/m2 ] and the ambient temperature [◦ C] varied, with the highest levels for both parameters happening at noon
Summary
The availability and use of energy are fundamental requirements for the social and economic development of any region or country [1], so much so that for a country, energy planning has as priorities the increase in energy supply in the short term and possibly in the medium term to provide these fundamental needs [2]. Current technologies convert solar energy into electricity and heat, respectively [4]. One of the types of solar conversion technologies are photovoltaic (PV). PV module heating is mainly caused by solar irradiance and ambient temperature, i.e. the periods when they are generating, reaching temperatures above 90 ◦ C [5]. The difference in temperature between the top and bottom surface of the module can reach levels above 8.0 ◦ C. The junction box region concentrates the highest temperature, 37 ◦ C, while the other areas are about 24–28 ◦ C [6]. As for the PV cell temperature, it mainly heats on the main bus region. The cooling system must be tilted to these regions
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