Performance investigation of tempered glass based photovoltaic panel integrated with back cooling hollow chamber

ABSTRACT

At present, the whole world is facing a huge fuel crisis and those who adopt the extraction of energy from renewable sources are getting much benefit both environmentally and economically. Photovoltaic systems are the most mature and scaled renewable energy generation systems worldwide. However, the optimal condition for maximizing the output from Photovoltaic (PV) panels is characterized by low temperatures and high irradiation levels. With the increasing temperature and irradiation, the solar panel becomes warmer and thus the efficiency drops. Hence, by cooling the PV panels, the efficiency can be increase. Various thermal collector designs and different water flowing methods (Top cooling & Back cooling) has been employed to cool the panels. In this research study, an experiment of building a new PVT panel attached to a hollow chamber (Thermal Collector) at the back of the panel is carried out. In hollow chamber the warm water was kept inside and release that when the water was hot enough. This experiment was conducted in various outdoor conditions. On average, the electrical efficiency was measured 8.7 to 9.9% higher than the simple PV system. Maximum overall efficiency was recorded as 76%. The experiment also figured out due to low irradiation in cloudy weather the output power drops significantly.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar PVT
• experimental setup
• Real-time monitoring
• electrical efficiency
• thermal efficiency

Nomenclature

$A_c$	=	Cell Area of the PVT module (m2)
$C\left(p\right)$	=	Specific heat at constant pressure (J/kg ºC)
$\phi$	=	Latitude of the experimental site
β	=	Angle of the panel toward the equator
${\eta }_{el}$	=	Electrical efficiency (%)
$V_{mpp}$	=	current at maximum power point (A)
$\delta v_r$	=	Repetition error uncertainty
$t$	=	Time to reach the water temperature to $T_o$ value (Sec)
G	=	Irradiation value on module plane (W/m2)
$P_{m}ax$	=	electrical power at maximum power point (W)
$FF$	=	Fill factor
$I_{s}c$	=	Short circuit current (A)
$V_{o}c$	=	Open circuit voltage (V)
${ }_{t}h$	=	Thermal efficiency (%)
$T_i$	=	Inlet Temperature (ºC)
$\delta v_e$	=	Equipment error uncertainty
$T_o$	=	Outlet Temperature (ºC)

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the technical and financial assistance of UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC) and the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) Program Research Grant, UMPEDAC-2020 (MOHE HICOE-UMPEDAC), Ministry of Education Malaysia, Japan International Cooperation Agency for AUN/SEED-Net on Collaboration Education Program UM CEP 1901, Japan ASEAN Collaborative Education Program (JACEP) IF034-2022, and Toyota classic 2018 fund by Toyota UMW Sdn Bhd-Development of innovative technology for solar photovoltaic thermal cooling system PVU001-2019, RU002-2021, University of Malaya and UM Matching Grant Smart Building Energy Management System Suitable for Tropical Climate Countries MG009-2023

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia [Fundamental Research Grant Scheme under grant FP103-2018A (FRGS/1/2018/TK10/UM/02/4)]; Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia [UMPEDAC-2020 (MOHE HICOE-UMPEDAC)]; Universiti Malaya [UM Matching Grant MG009-2023]; Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia [Fundamental Research Grant Scheme under grant FP103-2018A (FRGS/1/2018/TK10/UM/02/4)]; Toyota UMW Sdn Bhd [Toyota UMW Sdn Bhd- PVU001-2019, RU002-2021]; Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia [UMPEDAC-2020 (MOHE HICOE-UMPEDAC)].

Notes on contributors

Tahsin Anjum

Tahsin Anjum is a masters degree graduate student in renewable energy at Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC), University of Malaya, Malaysia. He also have working experience in the leading Ed-Tech companies of Bangladesh.

Abdullah Abdulmuhsen Saleh Basuhaib

Abdullah Abdulmuhsen Saleh Bauhaib has successfully completed his Master of Philosophy degree at the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC), University of Malaya, Malaysia. He was engaged in research focused on enhancing the performance of solar PV/T systems through innovative back cooling techniques and optimization methods.

Jeyraj Selvaraj

Jeyraj Selvaraj is currently working as Professor at the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC),University of Malaya, Malaysia. His research focuses on Electric vehicles and Solar PV/T Systems. He has expertise on power electronics, renewable energy, solar energy, and sustainable development.

Laveet Kumar

Laveet Kumar is currently working as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. His research interests include Hydrogen Energy, Solar Thermal Collectors and PV/T hybrid system.

M. Hasanuzzaman

M. Hasanuzzaman is currently working as Associate Professor at the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC), University of Malaya, Malaysia. Hasan’s research interests include Thermal Engineering, Renewable Energy, Solar Thermal, Energy and Buildings, Energy Policy, Energy and Environment, Nanotechnology, Transportation and Electric Vehicles.