Experimental Investigation of Open Circuit Backsurface Cooling for Solar Panels with Solar Trackers


Konur O.

2nd INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM SERIES ON GRADUATE RESEARCHES 2023, İzmir, Türkiye, 14 - 15 Aralık 2023, ss.1-5

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: İzmir
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-5
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

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.