TY - JOUR
TI - Enhancement of photovoltaic panel’s power using closed back side cooling system and numerical simulation
AU - Đorđević Stefan N
AU - Krstić Marko S
AU - Pantić Lana S
AU - Radonjić Ivana S
AU - Mančić Marko V
AU - Begović Veljko S
AU - Gocić Saša R
AU - Radovanović Branka G
JN - Thermal Science
PY - 2025
VL - 29
IS - 5
SP - 3401
EP - 3414
PT - Article
AB - The efficiency of PV panels is significantly influenced by the temperature of the cells, as higher temperatures reduce electrical power output, degrade performance, and shorten the panel’s lifespan. This study investigates the effectiveness of a closed-loop cooling system applied to the backside of a PV panel to enhance its output characteristics. The cooling system circulated approximately 20 L of water at a constant flow rate of 70 Lph. The results demonstrated a substantial 41.75% increase in power output, with the maximum efficiency achieved at peak cooling. Using real weather data recorded during the experiment, the temperature distribution across the panel layers was modeled using the ANSYS FLUENT 2023 R1 software package. The simulation and experimental results showed a maximum temperature difference of 1.6°C between the measured and simulated values. The cooled panel maintained an average temperature of 26.65°C, with a minimum of 16.7°C, compared to an uncooled panel’s higher temperatures. The system effectively reduced the temperature of the front side of the panel by up to 23.1°C, enhancing the overall energy output. These findings confirm that cooling PV panels from the back is an efficient method to reduce temperature and increase panel efficiency. Detailed simulations and analyses enable insight into PVT system performance and forecasting of production under various climatic conditions.