Comparative Analysis Of Liquid Cooling Mechanisms For Photovoltaic Systems
Abstract
Photovoltaic energy has the potential to provide clean and renewable energy to many countries around the world, especially in areas with high solar irradiance. However, in regions with particularly hot climates, elevated PV cell temperatures reduce conversion efficiency. In this study, four different liquid cooling mechanisms for photovoltaic systems are reviewed and compared in terms of energy yields and environmental implications. The science behind these technologies is explored to give a better understanding of how they work and how they can be improved in the future. Results show that submerged photovoltaics and front surface water cooling provide the greatest increase in energy yield, while back surface cooling and evaporative cooling methods provide significantly lower energy yields than suggested in previous works. There are potentially significant environmental impacts associated with submerged photovoltaics on marine environments.
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Citation
Gorman, S. H. (2016). Comparative Analysis Of Liquid Cooling Mechanisms For Photovoltaic Systems (Unpublished report). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.