INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF SOLAR PANEL TEMPERATURE ON POWER OUTPUT EFFICIENCY IN BRASS, NIGERIA.

Background: Luminous efficacy is a property of light sources, which indicates what portion of the emitted electromagnetic radiation is usable for human vision relative to the overall efficiency of a light source for illumination. This also applies to solar panels. Purpose: To confirm the possibility of using solar panel as an alternative source of generating electricity and to highlight hindrances to the maximization of solar panel efficiency in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria using Brass as a case study. Materials and Methods: A Modern digital instrument, BK precision model 615 digital light meter and Alda AVD890C digital multimeter, were use for measurement of solar radiation, current and voltage respectively, under varying conditions of temperature. Result: An average Solar panel temperature of 26.2 oC was recorded in the morning hours. Towards noon, solar panel temperature increased up to 45 0C. Output current also increased from 0.0 to 20.0 x 10⁻¹A. Solar panel temperatures between 26oC and 45oC appeared to favour increase in output current. Above 45oC, output current began to drop despite further increase in solar panel temperature. The best solar panel operating temperature in Brass is 45oC. Between the solar panel temperatures of 26oC and 32oC, output voltage remained relatively stable varying between 8.0V and 8.10V. Conclusion: Within limits, solar panel efficiency appears to be temperature dependent up to a maximum temperature, increasing up to 87.0% at 43.8oC. Higher temperatures appear to be counterproductive on solar panel efficiency.