Authors : Li Wah Thong, Sharmeeni Murugan, Poh Kiat Ng and Cha Chee Sun
Abstract: The impact and effect of photovoltaic panel temperature on the energy conversion efficiency of solar energy to electricity was studied empirically. In the analysis, the photovoltaic panel is placed under steady-state condition where the relative hvumidity and solar irradiance is assumed to be constant throughout the experiment. The preset conditions are necessary to ensure that other environmental factors such as wind velocity, ambient temperature and humidity have a negligible effect on the operating temperature of the photovoltaic module. In a steady-state controlled environment, the experimental results show that the measured voltage, current and its power decrease with time as the temperature of the photovoltaic panel increases. Consequently, the efficiency of the photovoltaic module will also decrease progressively. Thus, to maintain the efficiency of a photovoltaic panel, cooling technologies should be implemented to ensure the panel works within the optimized temperature. Therefore, the need to invent feasible solutions to decrease the operating temperature of the PV cells is vital.
Li Wah Thong, Sharmeeni Murugan, Poh Kiat Ng and Cha Chee Sun, 2017. Energy Efficiency Analysis of Photovoltaic Panel on its Operating Temperature. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 12: 3692-3696.