Comparative Study on the Electrical and Thermal Performance Efficiencies of Film Water-Cooled Solar Photovoltaic Modules
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33394/j-lkf.v14i1.20107Keywords:
Solar photovoltaic, Film water-cooling, Thermal management, Electrical efficiency, Hot climate performanceAbstract
High operating temperature remains a major factor limiting the outdoor performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, particularly in hot climatic regions. This study aimed to determine the solar input and output power and heat of PV modules under natural air-cooling and film water-cooling conditions, to evaluate the corresponding electrical and thermal performance efficiencies, and to compare the relative performance gains achieved by film water-cooling. The experiment was conducted in Sokoto, Nigeria, using two identical PV modules operated simultaneously under natural air-cooling and film water-cooling conditions. Outdoor measurements were taken from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm over five consecutive days. Solar irradiance, voltage, current, module temperature, water temperature, ambient temperature, and wind speed were measured, and the recorded data were used to calculate solar input and output power and heat, as well as electrical and thermal efficiencies. The results showed a clear diurnal variation in solar input, with peak irradiance, input power, and input heat of 605.2 W/m², 484.2 W, and 242.2 J, respectively, recorded at 12:30 pm. The film water-cooled module generally exhibited higher output power and output heat than the naturally air-cooled module during most observation intervals. Electrical efficiency ranged from 6.22% to 10.52% for the film water-cooled module and from 5.90% to 8.52% for the naturally air-cooled module. Thermal efficiency ranged from 18.82% to 70.64% for the film water-cooled module, compared with 19.26% to 41.16% for the naturally air-cooled module. Overall, film water-cooling improved the electrical and thermal response of the PV module under the tested hot-climate conditions, with the strongest benefit observed during periods of higher solar loading.
References
Agyekum, E. B., Praveen-Kumar, S., Alwan, N. T., Velkin, V. I., & Shcheklein, S. E. (2021). Effect of dual surface cooling of solar photovoltaic panel on the efficiency of the module: Experimental investigation. Heliyon, 7(9), e07920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07920
Alexa, M., Țăranu, N., Hudişteanu, S., Cherecheş, N., & Țurcanu, F. (2022). Cooling methods of photovoltaic/thermal panels: State-of-the-art review. Bulletin of the Polytechnic Institute of Iași, Construction Architecture Section, 68(1), 71–88. https://doi.org/10.2478/bipca-2022-0006
Alghamdi, H., Maduabuchi, C., Albaker, A., Almalaq, A., Alsuwian, T., & Alatawi, I. (2023). Machine learning performance prediction of a solar photovoltaic-thermoelectric system with various crystalline silicon cell types. International Journal of Energy Research, 2023, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1990593
Ali, A., Ouhassan, Y., Abouyaakoub, M., Chahboun, M., & Hihi, H. (2024). The impact of desert regions on solar energy production with the evaluation of groundwater for maintenance: A case study in Morocco. Sustainability, 16(13), 5476. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135476
Al-Waeli, A., Kazem, H., Chaichan, M., & Sopian, K. (2020). A review of photovoltaic thermal systems: Achievements and applications. International Journal of Energy Research, 45(2), 1269–1308. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.5872
Bonilla, A., Hernández-Callejo, L., Redondo-Plaza, A., Martin, K., Alonso-Gómez, V., Aguilar, C., ... & Bassam, A. (2025). Systematic review of flat plate photovoltaic thermal systems: Components, efficiency, monitoring, and artificial intelligence. Energy Technology, 13(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202500425
Cui, Y., Zhu, J., Zoras, S., & Zhang, J. (2021). Comprehensive review of the recent advances in PV/T system with loop-pipe configuration and nanofluid. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 135, 110254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110254
Cuong, N., Y, N., & Quốc, V. (2022). Modeling and experimental studies on water spray cooler for commercial photovoltaic modules. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 11(4), 926–935. https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.2022.46209
Dubey, S., & Subiantoro, A. (2018). Numerical study of integrated solar photovoltaic-thermal module with a refrigeration system for air-conditioning and hot water production under the tropical climate conditions of Singapore. International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration, 26(03), 1850021. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2010132518500219
Fouas, C., Cherecheş, N., Hudișteanu, S., Hajji, B., Țurcanu, F., & Cherecheş, M. (2022). Numerical and parametric analysis for enhancing performances of water photovoltaic/thermal system. Applied Sciences, 12(2), 646. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12020646
Kirpichnikova, I., Makhsumov, I., Madiyar, Z., Abdulloev, I., Boboev, K., & Shohnazarov, P. (2019). Study of the operation of solar modules using holographic thermal protection. E3S Web of Conferences, 140, 11010. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201914011010
Kiwan, S., Ahmad, H., Alkhalidi, A., Wahib, W., & Al-Kouz, W. (2020). Photovoltaic cooling utilizing phase change materials. E3S Web of Conferences, 160, 02004. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202016002004
Li, Z., Ahmed, S., & Ma, T. (2021). Investigating the effect of radiative cooling on the operating temperature of photovoltaic modules. Solar RRL, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202000735
Lyubenova, T., Medina, I., & Dunlop, E. (2024). Climatic specific energy rating analysis of outdoor PV field data. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications. https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3864
Maghrabie, H., Elsaid, K., Sayed, E., Abdelkareem, M., Wilberforce, T., & Olabi, A. (2021). Building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPVT) systems: Applications and challenges. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 45, 101151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101151
Mutasher, D., Mohammed, M., & Ubaid, Z. (2020). Study the performance of cooled photovoltaic thermal solar panel using new cooling technology. Association of Arab Universities Journal of Engineering Sciences, 27(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.33261/jaaru.2020.27.2.001
Ngunzi, V., Njoka, F., & Kinyua, R. (2023). Modeling, simulation and performance evaluation of a PVT system for the Kenyan manufacturing sector. Heliyon, 9(8), e18823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18823
Njomo, D. B., Barka, M. K., Khayal, M., Goron, D. C., Sorel, V. M., Tiague, R. K., ... & Nzadi, S. J. E. (2020). Modeling the incident solar radiation of city of N’Djamena (Chad) by the Capderou method. Journal of Energy Research and Reviews, 2020, Article 6292147. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6292147
Pansiri, T., Asanakham, A., Deethayat, T., & Kiatsiriroat, T. (2022). Performance on power, hot and cold water generation of a hybrid photovoltaic thermal module. Energy Engineering, 119(5), 1861–1878. https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2022.022332
Pathak, P., GhoshRoy, D., Yadav, A., Padmanaban, S., Blaabjerg, F., & Khan, B. (2023). A state-of-the-art review on heat extraction methodologies of photovoltaic/thermal system. IEEE Access, 11, 49738–49759. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3277728
Saliha, W., Abbas, A., & Ali, H. (2022). Methodologies employed to cool photovoltaic modules for enhancing efficiency: A review. Anbar Journal for Engineering Sciences, 13(2), 49–62. https://doi.org/10.37649/aengs.2022.176357
Sengupta, M., Xie, Y., Lopez, A., Habte, A., Maclaurin, G., & Shelby, J. (2018). The National Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 89, 51–60.
Shahria, S., Ullah, H., Mashud, M., Mokther, A., Hoq, E., & Rahman, M. (2023). Effect of temperature and solar panel position on solar PV system performance: A review. Energy and Thermofluids Engineering, 2, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.38208/ete.v2.729
Sharaf, M., Yousef, M., & Huzayyin, A. (2022). Review of cooling techniques used to enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic power systems. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(18), 26131–26159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18719-9
Silva, V., Martinez-Bolaños, J., Heideier, R., Gimenes, A., Udaeta, M., & Saidel, M. (2021a). Theoretical and experimental research to development of water-film cooling system for commercial photovoltaic modules. IET Renewable Power Generation, 15(1), 206–224. https://doi.org/10.1049/rpg2.12017
Silva, V., Martínez, J., Heideier, R., Bernal, J., Gimenes, A., Udaeta, M., ... & Saidel, M. (2021b). A long-term analysis of the architecture and operation of water film cooling system for commercial PV modules. Energies, 14(6), 1515. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14061515
Sudhakar, K., Debbarma, M., & Baredar, P. (2017). Comparison of BIPV and BIPVT: A review. Resource-Efficient Technologies, 3, 263–271. https://doi.org/10.18799/24056529/2017/3/130
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Abubakar Ahmad
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Lensa: Jurnal Kependidikan Fisika agree to the following terms:
- For all articles published in Lensa: Jurnal Kependidikan Fisika, copyright is retained by the authors. Authors give permission to the publisher to announce the work with conditions. When the manuscript is accepted for publication, the authors agree to automatic transfer of the publishing right to the publisher.
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
