Improvement of Solar Photovoltaic Efficiency by Implementing a Cooling System

School Name

Center for Advanced Technical Studies

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Engineering

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

2nd Place

Abstract

This study is dedicated to fixing a problem that has existed in solar photovoltaics since the beginning of photovoltaics leading to overheating and lowered efficiency. The hypothesis for this is by implementing a cooling system then the efficiency will improve in the cell. The methods for this first to test the limit of the PV cells to get a power curve for valid evidence. Second is to test different cooling methods for use in the PV cell. Third will be to build a small module and test to selected cooling method. So far results show that PV cells that are cool do have a higher output than non-cool. With that the results support my hypothesis of increased efficiency and maintaining efficiency. With this research there can be more knowledge spread of this problem and systems can be put in place against. Further in the future a solar photovoltaic module will be built to test the system in a bit of a larger scale. Keywords: Solar, photovoltaics, cooling system, improvement, clean energy.

Location

Lassiter 119

Start Date

4-14-2018 9:30 AM

Presentation Format

Oral Only

COinS
 
Apr 14th, 9:30 AM

Improvement of Solar Photovoltaic Efficiency by Implementing a Cooling System

Lassiter 119

This study is dedicated to fixing a problem that has existed in solar photovoltaics since the beginning of photovoltaics leading to overheating and lowered efficiency. The hypothesis for this is by implementing a cooling system then the efficiency will improve in the cell. The methods for this first to test the limit of the PV cells to get a power curve for valid evidence. Second is to test different cooling methods for use in the PV cell. Third will be to build a small module and test to selected cooling method. So far results show that PV cells that are cool do have a higher output than non-cool. With that the results support my hypothesis of increased efficiency and maintaining efficiency. With this research there can be more knowledge spread of this problem and systems can be put in place against. Further in the future a solar photovoltaic module will be built to test the system in a bit of a larger scale. Keywords: Solar, photovoltaics, cooling system, improvement, clean energy.