Energy performance enhancement of PV system through proposed back cooling techniques and natural air draft: an experimental study

Abstract

ABSTRACT One main cause of concern about solar system performance is how well PV modules work in high-temperature areas with high yearly average temperatures. Typically, solar panels are tested for power output at a temperature of 25°C. For every degree above 25°C in temperature, the panel’s output power will decrease. This article represents a novel development in the domain of solar panel cooling techniques. In this work, a new cooling system using the backside water cooling of the solar panels with an absorbent fabric yet with natural air draft. The suggested alternative is simple to implement and suitable for projects with modest budgets. The current research presents an experimental technique carried out on large-scale test hardware in order to demonstrate its applicability in a real-life model application. Results obtained indicate that panels fitted with high-density foam and natural air draft have an efficiency improvement of 41%. Such a finding is entirely novel and has not been seen before in any other independent investigation. The commercial impact of using water cooling technology (with natural air draft) on a large-scale solar facility is shown in detail in this paper’s life cycle cost research. In comparison to a conventional system’s payback duration of 13 years and total income of EGP 1,282,509, the study found that the system using the innovative cooling approach had a payback period of 12 years and generated total revenues of EGP 1,514,587.