THERMAL SCIENCE

International Scientific Journal

Thermal Science - Online First

Stefan N. Đorđević

,

Marko S. Krstić

,

Lana S. Pantić

,

Ivana S. Radonjić

,

Marko V. Mančić

,

Veljko S. Begović

,

Saša R. Gocić

,

Branka G. Radovanović

online first only

Enhancement of PV panel's power using closed back side cooling system and numerical simulation

ABSTRACT
The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels is significantly influenced by the temperature of the cells, as higher temperatures reduce electrical power output, degrade performance, and shorten the panel's lifespan. This study investigates the effectiveness of a closed-loop cooling system applied to the backside of a PV panel to enhance its output characteristics. The cooling system circulated approximately 20 liters of water at a constant flow rate of 70 L/h. The results demonstrated a substantial 41.75% increase in power output, with the maximum efficiency achieved at peak cooling. Using real weather data recorded during the experiment, the temperature distribution across the panel layers was modeled using the ANSYS FLUENT 2023 R1 software package. The simulation and experimental results showed a maximum temperature difference of 1.6°C between the measured and simulated values. The cooled panel maintained an average temperature of 26.65 °C, with a minimum of 16.7°C, compared to an uncooled panel's higher temperatures. The system effectively reduced the temperature of the front side of the panel by up to 23.1°C, enhancing the overall energy output. These findings confirm that cooling PV panels from the back is an efficient method to reduce temperature and increase panel efficiency. Detailed simulations and analyses enable insight into PVT system performance and forecasting of production under various climatic conditions.
KEYWORDS
PV panel, back side cooling, power enhancement, Electrical efficiency, ANSYS simulation
PAPER SUBMITTED: 2024-12-18
PAPER REVISED: 2025-02-18
PAPER ACCEPTED: 2025-02-21
PUBLISHED ONLINE: 2025-04-05
DOI REFERENCE: https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI241218052D
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Enhancement of PV panel's power using closed back side cooling system and numerical simulation