Investigation of a novel heat extraction configuration for boosting photovoltaic panel efficiency

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of accumulated heat extraction on photovoltaic (PV) panels' performance and longevity using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Three distinct cooling configurations were analyzed including thermoelectric cooling with a Peltier module, water cooling with a Peltier module, and a hybrid system combining thermoelectric and water cooling. Thermoelectric cooling with a Peltier module resulted in an 8.68 % efficiency loss. Water cooling demonstrated a 5.42 % increase in efficiency by effectively reducing operating temperatures. The hybrid system achieved the best results, with a 17.64 % efficiency increase. This research supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), economic growth (SDG 8), innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and climate action (SDG 13). Future work could enhance PV panel performance by using extracted heat for domestic water heating or industrial processes and optimizing cooling techniques through a parametric study and real-time machine learning models.

Keywords

• Photovoltaic solar panel efficiency
• Cooling techniques
• Hybrid cooling systems
• CFD simulation
• Peltier module
• Thermal energy management