Photovoltaic Module Thermal Regulation: Effect of the Cells Arrangement Configurations on the Performance

Abstract

This study is carried out to clarify experimentally the effect of higher PV module temperature on the module output power when the module works with and without thermal regulation system. Moreover theoretical study results are used to clarify which of the three configurations, in-line, oblique and offset of the cell location inside the channel, provide higher heat transfer rate at minimum friction factor. The results clearly indicate that, form the outdoor experimental measurements on PV module, the cell temperature is the prevailing parameter affecting the module output power more than the solar irradiance. While, based on the minimum friction factor for each configuration, the In-line plate segments configuration at certain design conditions provide the minimum friction factor, consequently, the minimum required pumping power, that will followed by higher PV module performance. Moreover, using PV modules in hot arid areas without thermal regulation leads to an increase in the total module areas ranging from 2.12 to 1.8 times that of module using thermal regulation system producing the same power.