Experimental and numerical study on the effect of water cooling on PV panel conversion efficiency

Abstract

The solar energy is available in a tremendous amounts around the world and the photovoltaic panels might be the solution global power problem. Put the use of PV panels is limited due to the low power conversion ratio. Along with the low conversion rate of the PV panels, its efficiency even drops with the rise of surface working temperature by 0.5% for each degree centigrade. This study investigate experimentally and numerically the effect of front face water cooling on the power production and efficiency. By developing a CFD and experimental module (cooled and conventional panel) for cooling the front face of the PV panel with 8, 6 and 4 LPM of water sprayed by 4 mm nozzle diameter. The results shows an efficiency increase up to 16.2% at 45 C ambient temperature compared to a conventional panel works at the same conditions.