Comparative Study of Efficiency of PV Panels Using Different Cooling Techniques

Abstract

Abstract Greater specific heat capacity of certain materials makes them a good heat storage material. Photovoltaic panels are unable to convert all the irradiation into electrical energy. Only a small fraction gets converted into electrical energy rest gets converted into heat which increases the operating temperature of cell. Higher operating temperature deteriorates the efficiency of cell. In this paper, we used results of several cooling techniques (Phase Change Material cooling, Thermoelectric cooling, Nanotube cooling etc.) to investigate their effect on operating temperature. The objective of the paper is to evaluate the varying parameters of the panel after cooling and to suggest which cooling technique offers better efficiency and panel temperature is being optimized for three different ambient conditions. The study concludes that water spraying from both front and rear side of panel results in highest variation of temperature and leads to higher efficiency of panel.