Implementation of Photovoltaic Water Spray Cooling System and Its Feasibility Analysis

This paper discusses the effects of applying a cooling system on photovoltaic (PV) designed using water sprays controller to improve efficiency and increasing power output. The cooling system was attached on existing 400 W polycrystalline PV panels. The PV temperature is maintained by controller at 30° C against rising temperatures above it by spraying water using 32 nozzles on the back side of the panel surface. PV testing with cooling system was carried out by including non-cooled PV panels for comparison. Then effect of temperature on the PV output power including the cooling system losses analyzed, net power and increasing in efficiency presented. Finally, the overall use of a water spray cooling system on PV panels was evaluated. Test results showed the PV output power with the cooling system increased by 9.03% compared to the non-cooled PV. The increase in temperature per degree above 30 °C caused PV output power decreases 0.411%. Overall, by involving the calculation of system losses the net PV output power gain becomes 4.09%.