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Performance of a PV module integrated with standalone building inhot arid areas as enhanced by surface cooling and cleaning

Research Authors
Ahmed Elnozahy, Ali K. Abdel Rahman, Ahmed Hamza H. Ali, Mazen Abdel-Salam, and S. Ookawara
Research Department
Research Year
2014
Research Journal
Energy and Buildings
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Vol
88
Research Rank
1
Research_Pages
100-109
Research Website
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-and-buildings/
Research Abstract

tThis study investigated experimentally the performance due to automatic cooling and surface cleaningof Photovoltaic (PV) module installed on the roof of a building in hot arid area as compared with thatof a module without cooling and cleaning. The module cooling is controlled automatically according tothe rear side temperature via rejection of none-converted solar-energy to the ambient to keep the PVmodule surface temperature always close to the ambient temperature. In addition, this system controlsthe cleaning period of the module front surface. The results showed a decrease of about 45.5% and 39% inmodule temperature at front and rear faces, respectively. Consequently, the cooled and surface cleanedmodule has an efficiency of 11.7% against 9% for the module without cooling and cleaning. Moreover, themaximum output power produced by cooled and cleaned module is 89.4 W against 68.4 W for non-cooledand non-cleaned module.