A Proposed Temperature-Dependent Photovoltaic Efficiency Difference Factor for Evaluating Photovoltaic Module Cooling Techniques in Natural or Forced Fluid Circulation Mode

The State of the Art of Photovoltaic Module Cooling Techniques and Performance Assessment Methods

“…Since there is no temperature difference in Example G, PV efficiency is neutral and the F TDED is zero. Last but not least, Example H's temperature differential of −1 and F TDED of −0.0045 suggest that the PV cooling method is causing a reduction in P PV efficiency [86]. Based on the presented results, it can be noticed that the F TDED may provide an overall evaluation of PV cooling strategies in either forced or natural fluid circulation mode.…”

“…This component determines the pertinent parameters that affect efficiency, and results in an evaluation of the PV cooling method as a whole. This parameter may be used as an indicator by product designers and manufacturers to assess the performance of PV coolers by showing whether the cooling method is neutral, increasing, or decreasing PV efficiency [86]. F TDED can be represented as the following…”

“…Based on Equation (5), the F TDED is +0.014, a positive value that suggests the cooling method increases PV efficiency. Now, if the PV module temperature after using a cooling strategy is 33.15 • C (Example B), the cooling technique can lower the PV module's temperature without increasing or decreasing the PV efficiency because the F TDED value is zero [86].…”

“…Based on the presented results, it can be noticed that the F TDED may provide an overall evaluation of PV cooling strategies in either forced or natural fluid circulation mode. This information could be useful to product designers and manufacturers [86]. The number of solar cells in a PV module has a direct correlation to its cost; as the number of solar cells increases, so does the cost of the PV module.…”

“…To put it one way, if a PV module with a cooling method that uses 100 solar cells is utilized, then a PV module without a cooler should have the same number of solar cells, making a total of 200 solar cells necessary. Thus, a novel technique that may be used to minimize the cost of PV cooler performance assessment which relies on the output power of a PV module with just one solar cell without a cooler is suggested [86]. Also, this method has the flexibility to be applied under various levels of solar irradiance.…”