Simulation of photovoltaic panel cooling beneath a single nozzle based on a configurations framework

Abstract

Solar cell performance decreases with increasing temperature, heat can reduce output efficiency by 10-25%. The operating temperature plays a key role in the photovoltaic conversion process. Increase in electrical efficiency depends on cooling techniques, in particular photovoltaic modules installed in the high temperature regions. A cooling process using a single nozzle of photovoltaic panel operating under different configurations was simulated. The simulation contains two parts: the first is a thermodynamic investigation of fluid impingement upon the sensor front face. The second is a performance comparison between two types of glass cover. The major result that emerges from this simulation is the effect of a single nozzle arrangement to enhance the cooling process, under a low cadence of impinging droplets in the range 0.1-1.7 m/s.