Reliability of a Directly Cooled PV/T System

The objective of this paper was to quantify and evaluate the effect of water absorption on a directly cooled PV module (PV/T). A design experiment was assembled and used in analysing the performance of the directly water cooled PV module when compared to a naturally cooled PV module. The results revealed that not only the power output of the PV/T dropped, but also the series and shunt resistances of the PV/T changed, and these were found to bring about changes in the generated power. A drop in output power impacted negatively on the performance of the PV/T system. This was found to have an effect on the reliability of the PV systems, hence compounding on the system’s ability to deliver the rated power during its life time. The Photovoltaic Module data considered in this paper was for a period of one year.