Performance Analysis of a Floating Photovoltaic System and Estimation of the Evaporation Losses Reduction

Arnas Majumder, Roberto Innamorati, Andrea Frattolillo, Amit Kumar and Gianluca Gatto
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Arnas Majumder: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Roberto Innamorati: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Andrea Frattolillo: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Amit Kumar: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Gianluca Gatto: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: Our research aims to achieve dual-positive effects in the presented study by raising photovoltaic (PV) panels over the water surface. With this, target experiments were primarily conducted to evaluate the efficiency increments of the PV panel while reducing its operating temperature through passive convective cooling obtained by raising it over water. The following objective was to estimate the reduction in water evaporation due to the shading effect induced by the panel placed inside the same basin. The performance of two PV panels was analyzed, one used for tests, the other as a reference. The characteristic curves were determined under the local environmental conditions of Cagliari, Italy. The true temperature reduction and efficiency gain calculations of panel P1 due to water cooling was achieved via the measured temperatures and calculated efficiencies of panel P2 at environmental conditions. The water height inside the basin was constantly monitored and maintained at approximately 7.5 cm below panel P1, which covered about 17% of the total water surface area. The presence of water underneath P1 leads to its efficiency increment on average by 2.7% (absolute) and about 17.22% (relative). At the same time, temperature of panel P1 dropped by 2.7 °C on average. The comparative water evaporation study conducted with and without P1 inside the basin showed a 30% reduction in water evaporation.

Keywords: PV on water; PV energy efficiency; PV passive water cooling; floating photovoltaic panels; water evaporation reduction; water evaporation control (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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