Simulation and Analysis of Thermal Efficiency improvement of Solar PV module by Spectral Absorption using Water

A significant amount of research and development work on improving the efficiency of PV modules by reducing the operating temperature has been done since the 1970s. Many innovative systems and products have been put forward and their quality is evaluated by academics and professionals. In most methods, PV is used as (part of) the thermal absorber and the heat is transferred to a cooling fluid. Such systems which produce both electricity and heat from one integrated component or system are known as a photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar system (PV/T). However all these systems consume additional energy for circulating the cooling fluid, hence reducing the net efficiency. In this project a passive method of PV cooling has been demonstrated by adopting the spectral absorption characteristics of water. Experiments have been carried out for single crystalline silicon panels under concentrated solar energy where heat built up is the major drawback. Results are discussed and the increase in efficiency is investigated and understood. Operating problems are analyzed and the advantages of using spectral absorption based PV cooling are pointed out.