Thermal management of photovoltaic systems: a comprehensive review of cooling strategies

Abstract

The photovoltaic system is an effective way to convert solar irradiation into electricity in comparison to other renewable energy sources. The solar cell performance can be changed by several factors, including solar cell material, solar radiation, and operating conditions (ambient temperature, dust, humidity, and shading). A high working temperature of solar cells is the most important variable that directly degrades the performance of power generation and the life span of a photovoltaic system. The efficiency of power generation for the photovoltaic system can be enhanced by implementing different cooling techniques which include active cooling, passive cooling, and hybrid cooling. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of various cooling methods for flat plate PV systems, comparing them with alternative techniques and discussing each method’s challenges, limitations, efficiencies, and power generation outputs. PV panels can enhance efficiency through active water-cooling techniques such as water-spraying, water-flowing, or nanofluids. These methods regulate the temperature of solar cells, boosting efficiency by up to 15–20%. Active air-cooling can improve efficiency by up to 2.10%, whereas water-cooling can increase efficiency by 13–18%. PV panels can also benefit from passive cooling techniques like natural air ventilation, water evaporation, and PCM, which can raise electrical efficiency by up to 16.5%, compared to the 12%–14% average efficiency achieved with air or water-cooling methods. Hybrid PV systems employ both active and passive cooling techniques for effective electrical and heat generation, increasing efficiency by up to 19.4%.