Automatic Cooling System for Efficiency and Output Enhancement of a PV System Application in Palembang, Indonesia

Abstract

Active cooling system technique which flows a thin layer of water on the surface of the PV panels can significantly reduce the panel surface temperature compared to normal use. From experiments conducted in Palembang, Indonesia on August 2018 used two polycrystalline PV panels 100 WP manufactured by Sankelux, can reduce the average surface temperature of PV panels by 18.7°C. The output voltage of the water-cooled PV panels increases by average 1.5 volts when loaded with a 1.5 ohms DC lamp compared to the normal panels. From the experiment, PV panel will work effectively from 8.30 AM to 3.30 PM. Increasing of panel temperature does not significantly affect the output current. The average output power on the water-cooled panel is 31.5 watts, has increased compared to the normal panel 34.2 watts. The overall average output power increase 2.7 watts. The cooling system can also increase the efficiency of the output power. Between 8.30 AM to 3.30 AM, the lowest efficiency enhancement occurred at 9.30 AM is 5.01% and the highest is 13.06 % occurred at 2.30 PM, and overall average efficiency enhancement of output power is 8.6%.