Experimental study on performance enhancement of smart <scp>PV</scp> water cooling using a built <scp>ON</scp> – <scp>OFF</scp> temperature control application in a digital embedded system

Abstract Semiconductors, including photovoltaics, are highly sensitive to temperature because their efficiency drops as the temperature rises. Although water cooling techniques were developed to overcome excessive photovoltaic temperature increases, their cooling process still needs to be automated or controlled. An ON–OFF temperature control system was established using a digital embedded system based on the Arduino Uno Microcontroller, an H‐bridge, a DC pump, and an MLX90614 infrared temperature sensor to regulate a PV water cooling process. For 40 W cooled and uncooled PV panels, measurements and calculations were made of solar radiation, open circuit voltage, and short circuit current to estimate power production, and electrical efficiency. A study was established based on three different set point temperatures which are 40°C, 45°C, and 50°C. The maximum decrease in PV temperature was 31.5°C, 30°C, and 25°C for 40°C, 45°C, and 50°C set point temperatures, respectively. The maximum increase in power output was 9.78%, 8.54%, and 7.2%, and the electrical efficiency increased by 9.96%, 8.52%, and 7.22% utilizing 40°C, 45°C, and 50°C set point temperatures. For the established temperature control digital embedded system, the Arduino unit offered an ideal and affordable integrated controller.