Solar conversion efficiency improvement of a photovoltaic module by hybrid active and passive cooling techniques

Abstract

Energy is becoming more demanding and a security to the continual existence of human race in different aspects. Renewable energy being the most clean and reliable energy sources have attracted the attention global researchers towards a high efficiency energy conversion interface of the most desired source; solar energy. The main aim of this research is efficiency improvement of PV system through the application of hybrid active and passive cooling techniques. A locally available and designed porous pot has been selected to be part of the forced water circulation technique because of its high cooling capacity without any necessary maintenance. The circulation was achieved with the aid of low energy powered fabricated centrifugal pump with flow rate of 0.01litres/sec. 5% concentration of Ethylene glycol in the cooling fluid to further aid the cooling capacity of the water. The pot was designed to ensure cooling down of circulating fluid before subsequent recycling process to a temperature below room temperature even at the hottest hours of a day. The technique was integrated with back surface aluminum heat sink, supported with an insulative cover. The result shows about 28% temperature fall and 4.04 Watts power increase of the module relative to reference module.