Thermal management of photovoltaic panels using configurations of spray cooling systems

Abstract

Photovoltaic panels suffer from significant efficiency losses at elevated temperatures, particularly in hot and arid environments. Effective thermal management is therefore essential to maximize energy output and extend system lifetime, as rising cell temperatures severely reduce photovoltaic efficiency. This study investigates the use of spray cooling systems to enhance photovoltaic panel performance by lowering surface temperatures as a potential solution. It experimentally evaluates 3-nozzle and 6-nozzle configurations using different nozzle diameters (0.2 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm) and spray distances (150 mm, 200 mm, 250 mm). The results show that spray cooling substantially reduces panel surface temperatures and increases power output. The best performance is achieved with the 6-nozzle system equipped with 0.6 mm nozzles at a 250 mm distance, yielding a 47.2 % reduction in surface temperature and a 30.7 % increase in power output. Thermal imaging confirms that this configuration provides a more uniform surface temperature distribution and mitigates hotspot formation compared to the 3-nozzle system. This work offers a comprehensive experimental analysis of nozzle number, diameter, and spray distance, and demonstrates the strong potential of optimized spray cooling systems to significantly enhance photovoltaic performance in high-temperature and dry climatic zones.