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Theoretical – experimental investigation of performance enhancement of a PV system using evaporative cooling

  • Ayman Abdel-Raheim Amr ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Ali A. M. Hassan , Mazen Abdel-Salam and Abou Hashema M. El-Sayed
Published/Copyright: January 1, 2025
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International Journal of Emerging Electric Power Systems
From the journal International Journal of Emerging Electric Power Systems

Abstract

Evaporative cooling technique is considered one of the effective methods for improving efficiency and power generation of a photovoltaic (PV) module by reducing the operating temperature of its surface. In this paper a theoretical study of heat transfer through a PV module was conducted to investigate how the calculated cell temperature and module efficiency are influenced by the ambient temperature, solar irradiation, and water flow rate, which affect the heating and cooling rates of the module surface. Experimental investigation was done to confirm the theoretical findings concerning the decrease of cell temperature and hence the increase of module efficiency with the increase of either the air flow on module cooling by using sprinkler for water misting or the mass flow of water on module cooling by using nozzles for making a water film over the module surface. The experimental results show a reduction of 26.94 % in cell temperature on using sprinkler against 28.32 % for nozzles with continuous cooling and 24.14 % using sprinkler against 26.75 % for nozzles with intermittent cooling. Experimental results show that evaporative cooling on using sprinkler and nozzles methods increase the electrical efficiency from 13.04 % without cooling to 14.5 % and 14.75 with continuous cooling against increase of the electrical efficiency to 14.29 and 14.7 with intermittent cooling. The maximum electrical efficiency in the datasheet at standard condition records 15.4 %. This means that the evaporative cooling over the PV module strongly improves the system performance to approach its efficiency at standard test condition STC. There is no significant difference between continuous and intermittent cooling in reducing the cell temperature and thus increasing efficiency. Moreover, intermittent cooling reduces the amount of water used for cooling.

Keywords: photovoltaic; evaporative cooling; cell temperature; module efficiency
Corresponding author: Ayman Abdel-Raheim Amr, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Minia, Egypt, E-mail:
Mazen Abdel-Salam IEEE Fellow, IET Fellow, IOP Fellow.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like the reviewers for their fruitful comments which enhanced the clarity of the paper.

List of abbreviations

A m

module area, m2

C cell

specific heat of cells, kJ/kg °C

C p

specific heat of air, kJ/kg °C

D AB

diffusion coefficient (the mass diffusivity of water vapor in air at air temperature in Kelvin)

FF

module fill factor

G

solar irradiance on module, W/m2

G r

Grashoff number

h conv

convection heat transfer coefficient, W/m2 °C

h f

enthalpy of saturated water, kJ/kg

h g

enthalpy of saturated steam, kJ/kg

h fg

latent heat required evaporating mass of water, kJ/kg

h mass

mass transfer coefficient, m/s

h rad

radiative heat transfer coefficient, W/m2 °C

h w

wind heat transfer coefficient of, W/m2 °C

I max

module output current at maximum power point, A

I sc

module short – circuit current, A

k a

thermal conductivity of air, W/m2 °C

L

module length, m

mv.

the mass flow rate of water, kg/s

P max

module output power at maximum power point, W

P out

module output power, W

P r

Prandtl number

P

atmospheric pressure, k Pa

P v,∞

partial pressure of vapor, k Pa

P sat

partial pressure of saturated vapor, k Pa

Q solar

energy input into the surface module area, W

Q u,thermal

useful thermal energy, W

Q u,electrical

useful electrical energy, W

Q rad

total radiation heat loss from the PV module, W

Q evp

total evaporative heat loss from the PV module, W

Q wind

total wind heat loss from the PV module, W

Q conv

total convection heat loss from the PV module, W

R e

Reynolds number of the flow

P out

output power of the PV module, W

S c

Schmidt number

Sh

Sherwood number

T

ambient temperature, Kelvin

T A

ambient temperature, °C

T c

cell temperature, °C

T ci

the initial value of cell temperature, °C

T w

temperature of water, °C

T ref

reference temperature, °C

T sky

TA-6, °C

T ∞

maximum value of cell temperature, °C

V cell

volume of cells, m3

V max

module output voltage at maximum power point, V

V oc

module open-circuit voltage, V

v a

air velocity, m/s

Greek letters

α

absorpitivity to express fraction of energy absorbed

β

Inclination angle of the module

β ref

temperature coefficient, 1/°C

ε

emission coefficient

η pv

electrical efficiency for PV module

η ref

reference efficiency

ϕ

relative humidity

ρ a

density of air, kg/m3

ρ cell

density of cells, kg/m3

ρ v,s

density of saturated steam at surface of module, kg/m3

ρ v,∞

density of vapor in ambient air, kg/m3

σ

Stefan Boltzman constant, W/m2 K4

γ

kinematic viscosity, m2/s

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors whose names are listed immediately below certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers' bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such a personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussion in this manuscript.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2024-08-18
Accepted: 2024-12-06
Published Online: 2025-01-01

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijeeps-2024-0227
Keywords for this article
photovoltaic; evaporative cooling; cell temperature; module efficiency
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