IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i24p16900-d1301366.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Full-Scale Design, Implementation and Testing of an Innovative Photovoltaic Cooling System (IPCoSy)

Author

Listed:
  • Ryan Bugeja

    (Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Malta, MXK 1531 Marsaxlokk, Malta)

  • Luciano Mule’ Stagno

    (Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Malta, MXK 1531 Marsaxlokk, Malta)

  • Ioannis Niarchos

    (Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Malta, MXK 1531 Marsaxlokk, Malta)

Abstract

The field efficiency of silicon-based solar cells is dependent on various factors including temperature. An increase in temperature results in a reduced efficiency of a magnitude dependent on the solar cell’s temperature coefficient. Furthermore, an increase in solar cell temperatures beyond levels specified by the manufacturer will result in a reduced lifetime and an increased probability of potential induced degradation and even failure. Researchers have created different cooling technologies to keep the solar cells’ operating temperatures to a minimum. However, no cooling technology in the literature is adequate for both land and offshore PV installations. A patented Innovative Photovoltaic Cooling System (IPCoSy) is presented in this paper. Previously published results have confirmed the cooling effect and feasibility using small-scale prototypes. This paper presents the design challenges and results of the full-scale implementation. The full-scale prototypes are the same size as commercially available photovoltaic modules, making them easier to integrate in the current market. Therefore, this research presents the results of testing full-scale prototypes while addressing challenges related to structural integrity and fluid dynamics. The findings of this research showed that the positive effects of this cooling technology range from more than a 9% increase in PV electrical energy yield, and thermal efficiencies of up to 56%. Finally, the outcome of this research will contribute towards the United Nations’ sustainable development goal of affordable and clean energy through direct operational efficiency improvements in PV systems, as well as the enhanced tapping of solar energy for renewable thermal energy production.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryan Bugeja & Luciano Mule’ Stagno & Ioannis Niarchos, 2023. "Full-Scale Design, Implementation and Testing of an Innovative Photovoltaic Cooling System (IPCoSy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16900-:d:1301366
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16900/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16900/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Smith, Christopher J. & Forster, Piers M. & Crook, Rolf, 2014. "Global analysis of photovoltaic energy output enhanced by phase change material cooling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 21-28.
    2. Abdolzadeh, M. & Ameri, M., 2009. "Improving the effectiveness of a photovoltaic water pumping system by spraying water over the front of photovoltaic cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 91-96.
    3. Teo, H.G. & Lee, P.S. & Hawlader, M.N.A., 2012. "An active cooling system for photovoltaic modules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 309-315.
    4. Bahaidarah, H. & Subhan, Abdul & Gandhidasan, P. & Rehman, S., 2013. "Performance evaluation of a PV (photovoltaic) module by back surface water cooling for hot climatic conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 445-453.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ruoping, Yan & Xiaohui, Yu & Fuwei, Lu & Huajun, Wang, 2020. "Study of operation performance for a solar photovoltaic system assisted cooling by ground heat exchangers in arid climate, China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 102-110.
    2. Sargunanathan, S. & Elango, A. & Mohideen, S. Tharves, 2016. "Performance enhancement of solar photovoltaic cells using effective cooling methods: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 382-393.
    3. 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.
    4. Salem, M.R. & Elsayed, M.M. & Abd-Elaziz, A.A. & Elshazly, K.M., 2019. "Performance enhancement of the photovoltaic cells using Al2O3/PCM mixture and/or water cooling-techniques," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 876-890.
    5. Sato, Daisuke & Yamada, Noboru, 2019. "Review of photovoltaic module cooling methods and performance evaluation of the radiative cooling method," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 151-166.
    6. Elbreki, A.M. & Alghoul, M.A. & Sopian, K. & Hussein, T., 2017. "Towards adopting passive heat dissipation approaches for temperature regulation of PV module as a sustainable solution," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 961-1017.
    7. Yang, Li-Hao & Liang, Jyun-De & Hsu, Chien-Yeh & Yang, Tai-Her & Chen, Sih-Li, 2019. "Enhanced efficiency of photovoltaic panels by integrating a spray cooling system with shallow geothermal energy heat exchanger," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 970-981.
    8. Bai, Attila & Popp, József & Balogh, Péter & Gabnai, Zoltán & Pályi, Béla & Farkas, István & Pintér, Gábor & Zsiborács, Henrik, 2016. "Technical and economic effects of cooling of monocrystalline photovoltaic modules under Hungarian conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1086-1099.
    9. Nižetić, S. & Grubišić- Čabo, F. & Marinić-Kragić, I. & Papadopoulos, A.M., 2016. "Experimental and numerical investigation of a backside convective cooling mechanism on photovoltaic panels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 211-225.
    10. Zhao, Bin & Hu, Mingke & Ao, Xianze & Xuan, Qingdong & Pei, Gang, 2020. "Spectrally selective approaches for passive cooling of solar cells: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    11. Chandrasekar, M. & Senthilkumar, T., 2015. "Experimental demonstration of enhanced solar energy utilization in flat PV (photovoltaic) modules cooled by heat spreaders in conjunction with cotton wick structures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P2), pages 1401-1410.
    12. Radwan, Ali & Ahmed, Mahmoud, 2017. "The influence of microchannel heat sink configurations on the performance of low concentrator photovoltaic systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 594-611.
    13. Lu, Yashun & Li, Guiqiang, 2023. "Potential application of electrical performance enhancement methods in PV/T module," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    14. Shiravi, Amir Hossein & Firoozzadeh, Mohammad & Lotfi, Marzieh, 2022. "Experimental study on the effects of air blowing and irradiance intensity on the performance of photovoltaic modules, using Central Composite Design," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PA).
    15. Hadipour, Amirhosein & Rajabi Zargarabadi, Mehran & Rashidi, Saman, 2021. "An efficient pulsed- spray water cooling system for photovoltaic panels: Experimental study and cost analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 867-875.
    16. Maleki, Yaser & Pourfayaz, Fathollah & Mehrpooya, Mehdi, 2022. "Experimental study of a novel hybrid photovoltaic/thermal and thermoelectric generators system with dual phase change materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P2), pages 202-215.
    17. Kane, Aarti & Verma, Vishal & Singh, Bhim, 2017. "Optimization of thermoelectric cooling technology for an active cooling of photovoltaic panel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1295-1305.
    18. Gilmore, Nicholas & Timchenko, Victoria & Menictas, Chris, 2018. "Microchannel cooling of concentrator photovoltaics: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 1041-1059.
    19. Jae Woo Ko & Hae Lim Cha & David Kwang-Soon Kim & Jong Rok Lim & Gyu Gwang Kim & Byeong Gwan Bhang & Chang Sub Won & Han Sang Jung & Dong Hyung Kang & Hyung Keun Ahn, 2017. "Safety Analysis of Grounding Resistance with Depth of Water for Floating PVs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-12, September.
    20. Farooq, Abdul Samad & Zhang, Peng & Gao, Yongfeng & Gulfam, Raza, 2021. "Emerging radiative materials and prospective applications of radiative sky cooling - A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16900-:d:1301366. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.