Investigations on Solar PV for improving its efficiency through thermal management

The solar photovoltaic module’s (SPVM) performance is highly relying on the available solar radiation and the module surface temperature. It is clearly known that the regulation of SPVM temperature can greatly enhance its performance. In this study, a simple and economical method is proposed to regulate the temperature of the SPVM to maximize its performance throughout the day. Two SPVMs of similar configurations were investigated: one without any modifications (SPVM/simple) and another with a water-dripping tube arrangement (SPVM/water). In the SPVM/water configuration, a small-diameter water tube with a series of holes was fixed at the top of the SPVM, and thereby, the water was slowly dripped down throughout the day over the surface of the SPVM. It was evidenced that the water-dripping arrangement effectively reduced the surface temperature of the SPVM by $22^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ and enhanced its electrical performance.