Energy-efficient smart solar system cooling for real-time dynamic weather changes in mild-climate regions

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews Vol. 182; p. 113347
• Main Authors: Novak, Milan, Vohnout, Rudolf, Landkamer, Ladislav, Budik, Ondrej, Eider, Markus, Mukherjee, Amrit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Active cooling; Efficiency; Photovoltaic panel; Real-time system control; Weather forecast; Weather forecast; Efficiency; Real-time system control; Active cooling; Photovoltaic panel
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113347

With changes in climatic conditions, the performance of photovoltaic power plant installations fluctuates, mainly due to excessive heat. The question of their efficient cooling comes to the fore, especially direct cooling, either by cooling media or air. Here, it is proven that the active cooling of photovoltaic panels leads to an increase in the performance, but the overall costs may exceed the benefits (especially for smaller/household installations). Moreover, in conventional approaches, increasing efficiency does not take into account sudden weather changes in the areas that have long been considered stable, such as the temperate climate zone. The proposed solution addresses the maximum number of parameters that can affect the cooling efficiency and introduces effortless rapid decision making system to ensure whether the conditions for active smart cooling are met or not. Parameters such as the amount of cooling medium (rainwater), its temperature, flow control, panel temperature, and the current prediction of local weather conditions based on the rapid changes in barometric pressure are monitored and then used for intelligent automation. By implementing efficient cooling system control that has to evaluate series of input parameters in real-time it was experimentally verified that the performance of photovoltaic panel installation using the spray cooling control system achieves average performance improvement of 14%. [Display omitted] •Real-time cooling control system improved by local rapid weather changes predictions.•Streamlined and cost-effective photovoltaic panel spray cooling design.•System experimentally verified in the photovoltaic field trial installation.•In average 14% improvement of the photovoltaic panel efficiency.•Smart, fully open and extendable control system.