Efficiency Improvement of Photovoltaic Panels: A Novel Integration Approach with Cooling Tower

Emad Abdelsalam, Hamza Alnawafah, Fares Almomani, Aya Mousa, Mohammad Jamjoum and Malek Alkasrawi ()
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Emad Abdelsalam: Electrical and Energy Engineering Department, Al Hussein Technical University, Amman 11831, Jordan
Hamza Alnawafah: Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
Fares Almomani: Chemical Engineering Department, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Aya Mousa: Electrical and Energy Engineering Department, Al Hussein Technical University, Amman 11831, Jordan
Mohammad Jamjoum: Electrical and Energy Engineering Department, Al Hussein Technical University, Amman 11831, Jordan
Malek Alkasrawi: Industrial Assessment Center, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Overheating of photovoltaic (PV) panels decreases their efficiency and lifetime, and subsequently increases the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Passive PV cooling would enhance the PV operational stability and durability. The cooling tower (CT) technology offers an attractive approach for zero-cost capability. In this work, we developed and customized a CT specific for passive PV cooling. Since the dense downdrafted cooled air gained high velocity, a turbine was installed at the bottom of the CT for power production. At the height’s ambient temperature, the CT cooled the air from 50 °C down to 30 °C. The cooled air at 30 °C has enough capacity to cool the PV panels. This cooling capacity improved the average annual efficiency of the PV panels by 6.83%. The design specifications of the CT have the highest performance, with the maximum radius of PV area of panels that can be cooled at 50 m. Furthermore, the current design could operate during the night for power production with minimum operational cost.

Keywords: cooling tower; PV cooling; downdraft system; photovoltaic; co-cooling; efficiency (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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