Research Information System
Journal of Thermal Engineering, vol.9, no.1, pp.191-204, 2023 (ESCI)
One of the parameters affecting the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV systems
is the temperature. The factors that increase the temperature in PV modules cause loss of
efficiency. In this study, experiments have been conducted with the aim of re ducing the
module temperature. For this purpose, four polycrystalline and four monocrystalline PV
modules, all with the same features, were used. A pair of polycrystalline and monocrystalline
modules were used as reference modules. The aim of this study is to reduce the operating
temperature of the modules, while also decreasing the transient temperature fluctuations
in the system, in order to prevent the loss of efficiency. For this reason, current, voltage
and power values of PV modules have been examined and the relationship between these
values and module temperature has been explained. As a result, temperature values were
measured at 30-80°C in reference modules, 30-50°C in heat pipe modules, 30-37°C in
modules using heat pipes and phase-changing material, and 30-66°C in modules using
phase-changing material with flexible surfaces. If the PV module operating temperature is
increased by 35°C, the module efficiency decreases by 10%. Heat pipe and PCM balance
the temperature in PV/T/PCM monocrystalline and polycrystalline modules. In PV/T/
PCM modules, efficiency loss caused by temperature increase is 1%. In addition, electrical
energy is produced from the heat accumulated on the surface of the PV module by means of
Thermoelectric Generator (TEG). When the temperature difference between the surfaces is
15°C, the naturally cooled TE provides 0.45V energy output, while the forced-cooled TEG
provides 0.97V energy output. As the temperature gap between the surfaces increases, the
voltage and current values of the TEG also increase. Briefly,