Experimental investigation of the effect of optical filters on the performance of the solar photovoltaic system

Abstract

Researchers are becoming more interested in renewable energies as a viable answer for today’s energy needs due to the rising demand for energy and climate changes brought on by the use of fossil fuel resources. One of the most significant sources of renewable energy is solar energy. Photovoltaic systems are used to convert the received solar radiation to electricity. Low overall performance throughout the operational time caused by raising the solar cells’ temperature is one of the most significant problems with the use of photovoltaic systems. In this experimental work, the influence of optical filters on the performance of photovoltaic panels was studied under Sharjah meteorological conditions. In this study, a 50 W solar PV module’s outdoor performance characteristics were analyzed. This case study employed a Plexiglas sheet, a box filled with air and water, and affixed it directly to the top surface of the PV panel to demonstrate the impact of the Plexiglas as an optical filter on the electrical productivity of the PV panel in relation to the variation in temperature caused by the filters. By imposing optical filters, and therefore lowering the temperature of the system, this work shows promising results in boosting the performance of the PV module. Module current drops dramatically as solar irradiance is blocked, yet panel voltage rises for filter-covered panels compared to the reference panel. In terms of fill factor and electrical efficiency, there has been a noticeable improvement. The voltage at maximum power, electrical efficiency, and maximum output power increased significantly. The average efficiencies of a reference PV module, a plexiglass-sheet-covered PV module, and a plexiglass-air-box-covered PV module are 7.02%, 7.5%, and 8.12%, respectively. In comparison to the reference module’s average efficiency of 6.66%, the covered PV module with plexiglass water box averages 6.74%

Keywords

• Optical filter
• Solar photovoltaic system
• Renewable energy
• Solar energy