Assessment Cooling of Photovoltaic Modules Using Underground Water

Abstract

Purpose: The drop in photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency under actual operating conditions because of cell temperature increase is a significant challenge to PV adoption and utilization. In this study, the efficiency and effectiveness of using underground water in cooling and cleaning photovoltaics will be practically ascertained in Baghdad-Iraq. Method: The cooling mechanism utilizes copper pipes in a modified spiral flow configuration. This developed system is referred to as Photovoltaic thermal (PV/T). To study the effect of using underground water wells on the performance of the PV system, two wells were drilled four meters apart to prevent the interference of cold well water and hot water from the heat exchanger. The water is drawn from the first well, with a depth of 8.86 m, and the hot water flowing out of the collector is injected into the ground through the second well, which has a depth of 8.43 m. Results: The outcome reveals that relying on a cooling source with a constant-low temperature (21°C) offers excellent cooling for the PV module, compared to an uncooled PV module, by 6°C at 7:00 AM and increased to reach 22°C at 1:00 PM. This reduction in temperature resulted in an average increase in electrical efficiency by 16.7%. The thermal efficiency ranges from 14% at 7:00 AM to 58% at 2:30 PM. Conclusion: The findings suggest that this approach is energy efficient and effective during the summer season.