A dual-functional cooling system for enhancing photovoltaic thermal management and energy harvesting

Abstract

With the continuous growth of global energy demand and the rapid advancement of photovoltaic (PV) technology, solar PV power generation has become a critical pillar of renewable energy. However, as the integration density and power output of PV modules continue to increase, thermal management challenges have become more pronounced, leading to reduced conversion efficiency and shortened service life. To address these issues, this study proposes a composite PV system that integrates thermal management and energy harvesting functionalities, employing hydrogel structures for efficient cooling and incorporating an aluminum-air battery to enable simultaneous cooling and electricity generation. Experimental results demonstrate that under a solar irradiance of 1200 W·m⁻², the integrated system effectively reduced the surface temperature of the PV panels by 19.25 °C, achieving a maximum cooling efficiency of 44.35 %. Meanwhile, the aluminum-air battery, driven by the waste heat generated during PV operation, achieved a maximum output voltage of 1.81 V, exhibiting excellent energy conversion performance. This multifunctional composite system not only significantly enhances the thermal management of PV modules but also realizes waste heat recovery and synergistic power generation, offering a novel pathway for multifunctional energy utilization.