Energy and exergy analysis of a PV module cooled by an active cooling approach
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Energy and exergy analysis of a PV module cooled by an active cooling approach Akbar Maleki1 · Phuong Thao Thi Ngo2 · Misagh Irandoost Shahrestani3 Received: 31 January 2020 / Accepted: 8 June 2020 © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2020
Abstract In this research, the effects of using water flow for cooling PV cell are numerically investigated. In this regard, computational fluid dynamics are applied to assess the impacts of solar irradiance, ambient temperature, and mass flow rate of cooling water on the temperature of the cell and its efficiency. Three different ambient temperatures, including 25 °C, 35 °C and 45 °C in addition to three solar irradiances in the range of 600–1000 W m−2 are considered in the modeling procedure to investigate their impacts. Moreover, the velocity of water at the inlet of the cooling channels varied between 0.5 and 0.9 m/s. Results indicated that this cooling approach is more efficient in cases of high ambient temperatures and solar irradiances. Besides, it is found that the increase in the mass flow rate of cooling water has little impact at high flow rates. The highest enhancement in the efficiency of the cell in comparison with the reference condition is observed at the ambient temperature of 45 °C, solar irradiance of 1000 W m−2, and water velocity equal to 0.9 m s−1, which is approximately 17.12%. Keywords PV cooling · Solar irradiance · Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) · Renewable energy
Introduction The use of solar energy has become widespread in order to tackle the issue of environmental conservation and sustainable energy supply. Solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) are two primary techniques to use solar energy [1–4]. Many researchers have studied methods to increase the efficiency of PV devices. One challenge in PV is the irreversible losses of low-energy photons as low-temperature heat [5]. In order to increase electricity production through PV, it is necessary to optimize its operations as well as its maintenance [6]. Photovoltaic cells can only convert 10–15% of the absorbed solar radiation into electricity. The majority part is either reflected the ambient medium or is absorbed, which enhances the temperature of the PV cell, and consequently, this can lead to a reduction in * Phuong Thao Thi Ngo [email protected] 1
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
2
Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Viet Nam
3
School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
the efficiency of the PV system [7]. Solar energy can supply the energy demand of the world. In other words, the solar radiation energy that impinges the energy surface is much higher than the world’s total 450 EJ primary energy use per year [8]. It is estimated that the total installed power capacity of photovoltaic will reach the amount of 1 TW in 2022 [9]. The market share of electricity production through the photovoltaic cell is only 1.7% [10]. Pho
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