COOLING-LIGHT

REFLECTION: ENHANCING
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFICIENCY
MUHAMMAD ZHARIF ZULKEFLI
NURUL IDAYU YUSOFF
JASRUL JAMANI JAMIAN
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
2016

Presentation Outline
Photovoltaic System (PV)
Light Reflection Method
Water Circulation Method
Proposed Method: Cooling-Light
Reflection
System Analysis
Summary

INTRODUCTION: PV SYSTEMS
PV systems convert
solar
energy
into
Electricity [1].
The
semi-conductor
PV
materials
create
an
ability
of
such
conversion [2-3].
However, the energy
conversion efficiency is
reducing in time due to
the
increasing
of
temperature during its
operational period [4].
To
overcome
the
increasing temperature
problem, a COOLING

Performance of PV system is
depending on the input of
irradiance from the sunlight.
The solar panel must absorb
maximum amount of solar
radiation in order to increase
the electrical efficiency of PV
cell [5 -6].
One of the ways to increase the
amount of irradiance is by using
REFLECTION MIRROR;
Received
and
Direct
the
reflection of sunlight to the
solar panel.

LIGHT REFLECTION METHOD

Multiple fixed directed mirrors that

act as a reflector to direct the
sunlight onto the solar panel for the
maximum radiation absorption[6].
The output power will increase due
to the direct sun light on the solar
panel.

The power will increase

but as well as increase in
temperature, which at the
end decreased the power
in time [7].
The method is not a good
solution of enhancing the
performance
of
solar
panel.

Photos from Ahmed,Shahjahan et.al, International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research3.4 (2014): 294-298 and
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6749751&isnumber=6749720

Water Circulation
Method
When
the
temperature

One of the cooling method

used previously.
The water will be sprayed
at the top end of solar
panel and it will flowing on
the surface panel to lower
the temperature [1].

sensor sense the panel

surface
temperature
at
certain level, it will send the
information to the Arduino
[8]. The Arduino will power
up the water pump and
water will circulate on the
surface of the solar panel
for a certain time.
The temperature of PV is
decremented by 8 thus
increase the panel efficiency
by 3% [8].
Proved that combination of
PV
panel
with
cooling
system
will
lower
the
surface temperature and
boost up the efficiency of
the PV cell.
Photo from http://
ijareeie.com/upload/2014/apr14-specialissue4/45.pdf

Proposed Method

COOLING-LIGHT REFLECTION
The cooling-light reflection PV system is designed to
the PV systems with the aims of enhancing its
efficiency.
The method is form from the COMBINATION of Light
Reflection Method with the Water Circulation
Cooling System Method.
The combination of system is believed to improve the
efficiency of the PV cells and at the same time
reducing the temperature of the solar panels .

Proposed Method

Cooling-Light Reflection Photovoltaic

Proposed Method

Conventional Solar Panel

Electrical characteristics
Model no. (Monocrystalline Panel)

PVM-10

Maximum Power (Pmax)

10W

Voltage at Pmax (Vmp)

18 V

Current at Pmax (Imp)

0.55A

Open-circuit Voltage (Voc)

21.6V

Short-circuit Current (Isc)

0.61 A

Power Tolerance

3%

Physical characteristics
Panel dimensions (mm x mm x mm)
Weight

350 x 290 x 15
1.1 kg

TILT ANGLE :
MIRROR

Proposed Method

There are three mirror attached

to the top end and both side of
the panel with tilt angle of
60 [9].
The dimension of the mirror is
the same with the size of the
solar panel because to ensure
that the reflection sunlight will
cover all the area of the solar
panel [10].
The temperature sensor is
placed on the surface of PV
panel to sense the solar
temperature.

Proposed Method

COOLING-LIGHT REFLECTION PV
SYSTEM
Cooling method is being
installed to the light
reflection solar panel.
Water is used as a cooling
agent to decrease the
temperature of the solar
panel [11].
Water
will
be
pump
through a hose from the
top end of the solar panel
as in the and flowing on
the surface of the panel.

Proposed Method

Schematic Diagram Overall Circuit

Proposed Method

OPERATIONAL SYSTEM
Data Acquisition Interface
LVDAC used to collect the
data from the PV panel. The
output from the PV is
connected to the 228.57
load resistor and connected
to LVDAC.
The temperature sensor is
placed on the surface of the
PV panel and it is connected
to Arduino program.

Power

supply to
power
up
the
Arduino board is
using
from
the
computer.
The
Arduino will powers
up the water pump
when
the
temperature of the
PV reaches 50.

Proposed Method

OPERATIONAL SYSTEM
The
temperature sensor
sense
the
PV
panel
temperature is exceeding
50, it will send signal to
Arduino board and trigger
the water pump to start
operate for 30 seconds.
When the time passed, the
temperature sensor will
work again to measure the
temperature of solar panel.
If the temperature is still
above 50, the pump will
continue to operate for
another 30 seconds.

System Analysis

COMPARISON OF PV SYSTEMS :
APPROACHES
Item

Less
Complex
Low
Power
Consump
tion
Less
Space
Needed
Can Be
Implemen
ted In
Real Life

Cooling-Light Reflection

Mirror

Tracking

Water Flow

Immersion

Reflection PV

PV

Method

Cooling PV

Water

Method

The Cooling-Light Reflection PV System fulfill all

the items, hence indicates that the approach is the BEST
choice of method to be implemented in a PV systems.

System Analysis

POWER
ANALYSI
S

Cooling-Light Reflection shows the HIGHEST output power.

The efficiency of the solar panel is increased in its output
power generated which indicates that the cooling-light
reflection method is an efficient approach to improve
performance of the PV system.

System Analysis

LOW INVESTMENT COST

Simplicity
is
a
key
characteristic
of
the
Cooling-Light Reflection PV
System;
Fewer moving parts and
less equipment overall
compared
to
other
competing systems.
Easy access to key plant
equipment for simplified
maintenance.
The result of the simple
and common sense design
approach is that the users
will enjoy low capital
costs
and
the
low
operating
costs
compared to the others

Concluding Remarks
The proposed method covered in both enhancing
the PV performance while maintaining the
temperature.
Power is increased and temperature is stable.
The model is good and efficient in enhancing the
PV performance.

REFERENCES
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photovoltaic system with a heating system,"World Renewable Energy Congress, vol. 8, 2011.
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characteristics of silicon solar cells, Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing
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Ookawara. "Performance of a PV module integrated with standalone building in hot arid areas as
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THANK YOU

FOR YOUR ATTENTION