Research Information System
2nd INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM SERIES ON GRADUATE RESEARCHES 2023, İzmir, Turkey, 14 - 15 December 2023, pp.1-5
The aim of this study is to optimize energy
production from photovoltaic systems installed in limited areas by cooling the
back surface of solar panels with a heat exchanger and to investigate the
effect of an installed solar tracking system on the energy production of the
proposed cooling system design. Three prototypes are constructed 50W solar
photovoltaic modules with the properties of Panel 1 uncooled, Panel 2 cooled, and
Panel 3 cooled with solar tracker arrangement. The prototypes are examined for
surface temperatures, water inlet and outlet temperatures, solar irradiation
values, open circuit output power, current, and voltage values, simultaneously
to conduct comparative experimental analyses with the conventional photovoltaic
system. The flow rate of the cooling water is determined as 2.2 l/min for the
cooled modules. The results
show that the power output proportionally increases by the solar irradiation,
and cooled panels provide higher efficiency compared to the fixed system. Panel
3 is advantageous to Panel 2 according to the larger heat removal rate for the
steady cooling water flow rate. The efficiency increment can reach up to 7.5%
and the power output increment ratio can be up to 111% between the uncooled
module and Panel 3.