An Experimental Study on the Performance of a Photovoltaic Panel Using Cooling Systems

Abstract

This work presents an experimental study on the performance improvement of a photovoltaic panel using a passive cooling system. Photovoltaic modules operating in hot and arid regions are strongly affected by high temperatures, which reduce output voltage, electrical efficiency, and overall energy production. For this reason, thermal regulation represents an important factor for improving the reliability and performance of PV systems under desert climatic conditions. The study was carried out under real outdoor conditions in Ghardaïa, Algeria, using two identical 100 W monocrystalline photovoltaic panels. One panel was used as a reference module without cooling, while the second one was equipped with a perforated finned aluminum plate mounted on the rear surface. Temperature, solar irradiance, and electrical parameters were measured and compared in order to evaluate the effect of the proposed cooling system. The experimental results showed that the aluminum cooling system significantly reduced the operating temperature of the photovoltaic panel. The maximum temperature decreased from 65.54°C for the reference panel to 52.46°C for the cooled panel, corresponding to a reduction of approximately 13.08°C. This thermal improvement contributed to better operating conditions and enhanced electrical performance. Therefore, the proposed passive aluminum cooling system can be considered a simple, low-cost, and effective solution for improving photovoltaic panel performance in hot desert environments.