Assessing the Impact of Water Cooling on PV Modules Efficiency

Wojciech Luboń, Grzegorz Pełka, Mirosław Janowski, Leszek Pająk, Michał Stefaniuk, Jarosław Kotyza and Paweł Reczek
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Wojciech Luboń: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Grzegorz Pełka: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Mirosław Janowski: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Leszek Pająk: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Michał Stefaniuk: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Jarosław Kotyza: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Paweł Reczek: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: The article presents the results of research on the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) modules cooled with water. The aim of the experiment was to improve the working conditions of solar modules. A temperature decrease was obtained for the PV module by pouring cool tap water onto the upper surface of the modules, either in imitation of rain or as a water film. The power of the cooled and non-cooled devices were then compared. The temperature of the cooled modules dropped to almost 25 °C, whilst the temperature of the non-cooled module was 45 °C. The best results were achieved by cooling modules with a water film, since there were no water splashes, and the continuous cooling of the surface leads to a 20% increase in power. During the test, the non-cooled module attained a maximum power of 105.3 W/m 2 , compared to 125.5 W/m 2 for its cooled counterpart. Cooling the module, therefore, resulted in a power increase of 20.2 W/m 2 . The results of the work may be of particular interest for small installations, especially because it cleans the modules while providing an increase in power.

Keywords: Photovoltaic module; cooling PV module; Efficiency of PV module (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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