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Efficiency Improvement of Photovoltaic Modules via Back Surface Cooling

Author

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  • Piero Bevilacqua

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte P. Bucci 46/C, ZIP 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy)

  • Stefania Perrella

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte P. Bucci 46/C, ZIP 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy)

  • Daniela Cirone

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte P. Bucci 46/C, ZIP 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy)

  • Roberto Bruno

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte P. Bucci 46/C, ZIP 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy)

  • Natale Arcuri

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte P. Bucci 46/C, ZIP 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy)

Abstract

Crystalline silicon photovoltaics are a cardinal and well-consolidated technology for the achievement of energy efficiency goals, being installed worldwide for the production of clean electrical energy. However, their performance is strongly penalized by the thermal drift, mostly in periods of high solar radiation where solar cells reach considerably high temperatures. To limit this aspect, the employment of cooling systems appears a promising and viable solution. For this purpose, four different cooling systems, working on the photovoltaic (PV) panel back surface, were proposed and investigated in an experimental set-up located at the University of Calabria (Italy). Hourly electrical output power and efficiency were provided accounting for different meteorological conditions in several months of the experimental campaign. The results demonstrated that a simple spray cooling technique can provide an absolute increment of electrical efficiency of up to 1.6% and an average percentage increment of daily energy of up to 8% in hot months. More complex systems, based on ventilation or combining spray cooling and ventilation, were demonstrated not to be a viable option for PV performance improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Piero Bevilacqua & Stefania Perrella & Daniela Cirone & Roberto Bruno & Natale Arcuri, 2021. "Efficiency Improvement of Photovoltaic Modules via Back Surface Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:4:p:895-:d:496137
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Bevilacqua, Piero & Bruno, Roberto & Rollo, Antonino & Ferraro, Vittorio, 2022. "A novel thermal model for PV panels with back surface spray cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    5. Daniela Cirone & Roberto Bruno & Piero Bevilacqua & Stefania Perrella & Natale Arcuri, 2022. "Techno-Economic Analysis of an Energy Community Based on PV and Electric Storage Systems in a Small Mountain Locality of South Italy: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Nicoletti, Francesco & Cucumo, Mario Antonio & Arcuri, Natale, 2023. "Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV): A mathematical approach to evaluate the electrical production of solar PV blinds," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    7. Ahmad Manasrah & Mohammad Masoud & Yousef Jaradat & Piero Bevilacqua, 2022. "Investigation of a Real-Time Dynamic Model for a PV Cooling System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, March.
    8. Roberto Bruno & Piero Bevilacqua & Antonino Rollo & Francesco Barreca & Natale Arcuri, 2022. "A Novel Bio-Architectural Temporary Housing Designed for the Mediterranean Area: Theoretical and Experimental Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-25, April.
    9. Qi Yang & Yanpei Huang & Zitian Niu & Yuandong Guo & Qi Wu & Jianyin Miao, 2022. "Experimental Investigation on the Heat Transfer Characteristics of Multi-Point Heating Microchannels for Simulating Solar Cell Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-14, July.
    10. Álvaro Rodríguez-Martinez & Carlos Rodríguez-Monroy, 2021. "Economic Analysis and Modelling of Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems in Spain for Industrial Self-Consumption," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-32, November.
    11. Gabriella-Stefánia Szabó & Róbert Szabó & Loránd Szabó, 2022. "A Review of the Mitigating Methods against the Energy Conversion Decrease in Solar Panels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.

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