Comprehensive energy efficiency analysis of PV system with different spray cooling media

Currently, due to the impact of the energy crisis, the development trend of solar energy continues to rise. Photovoltaic (PV) technology, as an important renewable energy generation method, has experienced rapid development worldwide. Spray cooling technology has higher cooling performance, which can make PV system obtain better temperature control effect. In this paper, the influence of different spray cooling media on the cooling effects and comprehensive energy efficiency of PV system was studied by simulation. Through the simulation research under the work conditions of all four seasons, it is concluded that the PV systems with water spray cooling and with ethylene glycol antifreeze spray cooling can achieve higher annual effective power generation than the PV system with air cooling. Although the PV system using water as the spray cooling medium can achieve higher effective power generation and higher waste heat recovery rate in spring, summer and autumn than the PV system using ethylene glycol antifreeze, the water spray cooling system cannot operate in winter due to the freezing problem of the water pipeline in winter. The ethylene glycol antifreeze cooling system can operate continuously throughout the four seasons, allowing the PV system to achieve higher total heat recovery capacity and higher comprehensive utilization rate of solar energy.