Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Efficiency Improvement of Photovoltaic Module by Air Cooling

  • SOLAR PLANTS AND THEIR APPLICATION
  • Published:
Applied Solar Energy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract—

Photovoltaic system (PV) for meeting the electricity requirement has achieved a tremendous amount of attention in the recent past because of their simple, silent, clean and low-cost operation. The electrical efficiency of PV panel is badly affected by the ambient temperature. As the ambient temperature is increased, PV module cell temperature also increases which ultimately decreases the electrical efficiency of PV module. In this research, two PV panels were selected for the study. One is converted into Hybrid Photovoltaic thermal system by integrating an air duct at the back of the PV panel for cooling of PV module to improve the electrical performance. While other is simple PV panel with no cooling effects. The electrical efficiency of both PV and PVT has been determined and compared and PVT seems to be more electrically efficient while it is also capable to produce heat. The thermal efficiency of the PVT system is also determined. A correlation between ambient temperature and outlet air temperatures is also developed using Minitab. This research is beneficial for all those areas where there is a requirement of both electricity and space heating.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Khalid Latif, Muhammad Yousaf Raza, Ghulam Mujtaba Chaudhary, and Adeel Arshad, Analysis of energy crisis, energy security and potential of renewable energy: Evidence from Pakistan, J. Acc. Finance Emerging Econ., 2020, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 167–182.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Shahzada Adnan, Azmat Hayat Khan, Sajjad Haider, and Rashed Mahmood, Solar energy potential in Pakistan, J. Renewable Sustainable Energy, 2012, vol. 4, no. 3, id. 032701.

  3. Sheikh, M.A., Renewable energy resource potential in Pakistan, Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev., 2009, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 2696–2702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Aboubakr El Hammoumi, Saad Motahhir, Abdelaziz El Ghzizal, Abdelilah Chalh, and Aziz Derouich, A simple and low-cost active dual-axis solar tracker, Energy Sci. Eng., 2018, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 607–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Umar K. Mirza, Nasir Ahmad, Tariq Majeed, and Khanji Harijan, Wind energy development in Pakistan, Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev., 2007, vol. 11, no. 9, pp. 2179–2190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chalh, A., Motahhir, S., El Hammoumi, A., El Ghzizal, A., and Derouich, A., Study of a low-cost PV emulator for testing MPPT algorithm under fast irradiation and temperature change, Technol. Econ. Smart Grids Sustainable Energy, 2018, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Muhammad Uzair, Syed Sarosh Sohail, Nasir Uddin Shaikh, and Ali Shan, Agricultural residue as an alternate energy source: A case study of Punjab province, Pakistan, Renewable Energy, 2020, vol. 162, pp. 2066–2074.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bruch, M. and Müller, M., Calculation of the cost-effectiveness of a PV battery system, Energy Procedia, 2014, vol. 46, pp. 262–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Badre El Majid, Saad Motahhir, and Abdelaziz El Ghzizal, Parabolic bifacial solar panel with the cooling system: concept and challenges, SN Appl. Sci., 2019, vol. 1, no. 10, pp. 1–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Akbar Maleki, Phuong Thao Thi Ngo, and Misagh Irandoost Shahrestani, Energy and exergy analysis of a PV module cooled by an active cooling approach, J. Therm. Anal. Calorim., 2020, vol. 141, no. 6, pp. 2475–2485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Aste, N., Chiesa, G., and Verri, F., Design, development and performance monitoring of a photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) air collector, Renewable Energy, 2008, vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 914–927.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Sultan, S.M. and Efzan, M.E., Review on recent photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) technology advances and applications, Sol. Energy, 2018, 173, pp. 939–954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ahmad Fudholi, Muhammad Zohri, Nurul Shahirah Binti Rukman, Nurul Syakirah Nazri, Muslizainun Mustapha, Chan Hoy Yen, Masita Mohammad, and Kamaruzzaman Sopian, Exergy and sustainability index of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) air collector: A theoretical and experimental study, Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev., 2019, vol. 100, pp. 44–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Biplab Das, Behnaz Rezaie, Prabhakar Jha, and Rajat Gupta, Performance analysis of single glazed solar PVT air collector in the climatic condition of NE India, in Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute Proceedings, 2017, vol. 2, no. 4, p. 171.

  15. Amira Lateef Abdullah, Suhaimi Misha, Noreffendy Tamaldin, and Mohd Afzanizam Mohd Rosli, Numerical analysis of solar hybrid photovoltaic thermal air collector simulation by ANSYS, CFD Lett., 2019, vol. 11, pp. 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jakhar, S., Soni, M.S., and Boehm, R.F., Thermal modeling of a rooftop photovoltaic/thermal system with earth air heat exchanger for combined power and space heating, J. Sol. Energy Eng., 2018, vol. 140, pp. 3–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kasaeian, A., Khanjari, Y., Golzari, S., Mahian, O., and Wongwises, S., Effects of forced convection on the performance of a photovoltaic thermal system: An experimental study, Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci., 2017, vol. 85, pp. 13–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Slimani, M.E.A., Amirat, M., Kurucz, I., Bahria, S., Hamidat, A., and Chaouch, W.B., A detailed thermal-electrical model of three photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid air collectors and photovoltaic (PV) module: Comparative study under Algiers climatic conditions, Energy Convers. Manage., 2017, vol. 133, pp. 458–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ghazala Naheed and Ghulam Rasul, Projections of crop water requirement in Pakistan under global warming, Pak. J. Meteorol., 2010, vol. 7, no. 13, pp. 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ghulam Rasul, Chaudhry, Q.Z., Arif Mahmood, Hyder, K.W., and Qin Dahe, Glaciers and glacial lakes under changing climate in Pakistan, Pak. J. Meteorol., 2011, vol. 8, no. 15.

  21. Pakistan oil consumption on daily basis. https://www.worldometers.info/oil/pakistan-oil/#:~:text= as%20of%202016).-Oil%20Imports,barrels%20per%-20day%20in%202016). Accessed March 2, 2021.

  22. Agrawal, S. and Tiwari, G.N., Performance analysis in terms of carbon credit earned on annualized uniform cost of glazed hybrid photovoltaic thermal air collector, Sol. Energy, 2015, vol. 115, pp. 329–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Gilbert, M.M., Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Firoz Ahmed and Intikhab Ulfat, Empirical models for the correlation of monthly average daily global solar radiation with hours of sunshine on a horizontal surface at Karachi, Pakistan, Turk. J. Phys., 2004, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 301–307.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Liu, B.Y.H. and Jordan, R.C., The interrelationship and characteristic distribution of direct, diffuse and total solar radiation, Sol. Energy, 1960, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Monthly weather forecast and climate Karachi, Pakistan. https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/pakistan/karachi-climate. Accessed February 27, 2021.

Download references

Funding

This research is not funded by any organization.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

    Asad A. Naqvi, Ahsan Ahmed & Talha Bin Nadeem

Authors
  1. Asad A. Naqvi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ahsan Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Talha Bin Nadeem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asad A. Naqvi.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Asad A. Naqvi, Ahmed, A. & Nadeem, T.B. Efficiency Improvement of Photovoltaic Module by Air Cooling. Appl. Sol. Energy 57, 517–522 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X21060049

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X21060049

Keywords:

Search

Navigation