Performance investigation of solar photovoltaic panels using mist nozzles cooling system

Figures & data

Figure 1. (a). Real time setup of experimental setup. (b). Orientation of thermocouples mounted on the PV panels.

Figure 2. Weather station, data logger and VOLTAM meter.

Table 1. Description of polycrystalline silicon PV panel.

Measurables	Value	Unit of measurement
Model	Spp-M35V	-
Type	Polycrystalline	-
No. of cells	90	Unit
Max Power (Pmax)	35	W
Max Voltage (Vmax)	10	V
Max Current (Imax)	3.5	A
Open Circuit Voltage (Voc)	12	V
Short Circuit Current (Isc)	3.85	A
Power Tolerance	±3	%
Temperature Co-Efficient of Power	-0.3	%//^oC
Weight	6.5	kg
Dimension	635x350x25	mm^3

Figure 3. Mist nozzle Assembly.

Table 2. Uncertainties associated with the measuring instruments of the experimental setup.

Instrument	Range	Maximum uncertainty
Data logger	−270 to 1372°C	±2%
VOLTAM meter	DC 100V 10A	±3%
Thermocouples	−200 to 1000°C	±0.5

Figure 4. Comparative power and temperature variations of modified and comparison PV modules on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd February.

Table 3. Summary of maximum power gain with natural circulation.

Des.	Max. irradiance	Pc	Ppv	Power gain
Unit	W/m^2	W	W	%
1 Feb	703	15.6	16.2	6.95
2 Feb	684	17.7	18.3	4.38
3 Feb	690	18.6	19.4	4.36

Table 4. Summary of PV module temperature variation with natural circulation.

Des.	Max. irradiance	Ta	Tc, front (T1)	Tpv, front (T3)	Difference	Tc, rear (T2)	Tpv, rear (T4)	Difference
Unit	W/m^2	^oC	^oC	oC	%	^oC	oC	%
1 Feb	703	25.3	41	38.3	−6.5	38	28	−25.6
2 Feb	684	28.7	39.2	37.2	−5	36.2	26.8	−25
3 Feb	690	27.3	40.6	36.6	−9.9	36.6	33.3	−9

Table 5. Summary of PV module temperature variation with forced circulation.

Des.	Max. irradiance	Ta	Tc, front (T1)	Tpv, front (T3)	Difference	Tc, rear (T2)	Tpv, rear (T4)	Difference
Unit	W/m^2	^oC	^oC	oC	%	^oC	oC	%
08 Feb	738	26.6	43.5	42.6	−1.7	39.5	36.6	−7
09 Feb	760	28	44.6	42.3	−5.1	40	37	−7.4
10 Feb	765	28.6	47	45.3	−3.5	42.3	38	−9.9
28 Feb	804	30.4	36.2	34	−6.1	32.4	29.6	−8.6
01 Mar	790	31.2	37.4	34.8	−6.9	33.6	31.2	−7
02 Mar	799	32.6	38.6	36	−6.6	34.8	32.2	−7.4

Table 6. Summary of maximum power gain with forced circulation.

Des.	Max. irradiance	Pc	Ppv	Power gain
Unit	W/m^2	W	W	%
08 Feb	738	12.8	12.8	.3
09 Feb	760	12.6	12.8	1.02
10 Feb	765	13.2	13.9	5.4
28 Feb	804	14.7	15	2.1
01 Mar	790	15	15.3	2.06
02 Mar	799	15.2	16.6	9.2

Figure 5a. Comparative power of modified and comparison (Pc & Pm) of PV modules on 8th ,9th, 10th, & 28th February and 1st , & 2nd March.

Figure 5b. Temperature trend [ambient, modified and comparison (Ta, Tcf, tcr, tmf, & tmr) on 8th ,9th, 10th, & 28th February and 1st , & 2nd March.

Figure 6. Efficiency comparison and temperature gain on 1st ,2nd , and 3rd February.

Figure 7a. Efficiency comparison and temperature gain on 8th ,9th , & 10th February.

Figure 7b. Efficiency comparison and temperature gain on 28th Feb, and 1st & 2nd March.

Table 7. Summary of average temperature and efficiency gain with natural circulation.

Des.	Max. irradiance	η c	η pvc	η gain (max)	Twater, in (T5)	Twater, out (T6)	DT(max)
Unit	W/m^2	%	%	%	^oC	^oC	^oC
1 Feb	703	9.83	1.6	7	27	36	9
2 Feb	684	8.4	8.8	4.4	17	25	8
3 Feb	690	14.4	15p0	4.4	30	39	9

Table 8. Summary of average temperature and efficiency gain with forced circulation.

Des.	Max. irradiance	η c	η pvc	η gain (max)	Twater, in (T5)	Twater, out (T6)	DT (max)
Unit	W/m^2	%	%	%	^oC	^oC	^oC
08 Feb	738	11.2	11.4	1.3	28	33	5
09 Feb	760	8.6	8.9	3	30	34	4
10 Feb	765	7.7	8.2	5	33	36	3
28 Feb	804	9.18	9.4	2.1	35	40	5
01 Mar	790	9.75	10	2.8	32	40	8
02 Mar	799	8.75	9.6	9.2	35	43	8

Table 9. Comparison with other works done in past on cooling of PV system.

Ref	Technology	Irradiance (W/m^2)	Tamb (°C)	Twater (°C)	DT (°C)	Efficiency gain (%)	Mode
(Nižetić et al. 2016)	Jet Impingement	810–850	27–30	17	22.3	15.59	Exp.
(Ahmad, Said, and Hachicha 2022)	Mist Impingement with Non-Insulated Container	767	45.8	44.8	Front:16.38 Rear:23.73	Avg. 13.54 Peak: 16.81	Exp.
(Ahmad, Said, and Hachicha 2022)	Mist Impingement with Insulated Container	781.70	44.4	43.6	Front:18.92 Rear:25.18	Avg. 16.16 Peak: 20.45	Exp.
(Wei, Nan, and Guiping 2017)	PCM (Phase Change Material) Cooling	Avg= 706 Highest=1100	32	-	-	η Without PCM=14.1% η With PCM= 15% Gain= 2.7%	Exp.
This Research	Mist Cooling (a) With Natural Circulation	619	27.3	21.2	Front: 2.8 Rear: 7.8	Peak= 7% Avg. = 3.72%	Exp.
	(a) With forced Circulation	715	30	32.1	Front: 2.1 Rear: 2.7	Peak= 9.2% Avg. = 1.7%

Nižetić, S., D. Čoko, A. Yadav, and F. Grubišić-Čabo. 2016. Water spray cooling technique applied on a photovoltaic panel: The performance response. Energy Conversion and Management 108:287–96. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2015.10.079.

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