Theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water—Energy enhancement and environmental-economic insights

Fossil fuel consumption is the primary and most influential contributor to global warming. Since fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources that will eventually be depleted, decision-makers are encouraging individuals and businesses to invest in renewable energy systems. Among these, photovoltaic...

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Main Authors: Tarek Ibrahim, Jalal Faraj, Hicham El Hage, Khaled Chahine, Mehdi Mortazavi, Mahmoud Khaled
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:International Journal of Thermofluids
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202724004270
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author Tarek Ibrahim
Jalal Faraj
Hicham El Hage
Khaled Chahine
Mehdi Mortazavi
Mahmoud Khaled
author_facet Tarek Ibrahim
Jalal Faraj
Hicham El Hage
Khaled Chahine
Mehdi Mortazavi
Mahmoud Khaled
author_sort Tarek Ibrahim
collection DOAJ
description Fossil fuel consumption is the primary and most influential contributor to global warming. Since fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources that will eventually be depleted, decision-makers are encouraging individuals and businesses to invest in renewable energy systems. Among these, photovoltaic (PV) panels offer a promising solution for combating global warming by generating electricity from solar energy. However, their efficiency diminishes as temperatures rise. Water cooling systems have emerged as highly effective in reducing PV panel temperatures and thereby enhancing efficiency. The current study focuses on theoretical parametric analysis of water-cooled PV panels, specifically examining the intervals of maximum and minimum relative efficiency enhancements suitable for residential applications. It provides energetic, economic, and environmental insights based on mathematical equations, providing theoretical parametric analysis based on relative efficiency enhancement values of water-cooling methods retrieved from the literature due to the lack of parametric studies present on cooling PV panels. Moreover, the scaled parametric analysis conducted is in terms of the PV area, prompting the user to enter the desired PV area to get insights on the possible system to be constructed. Interval and parametric studies were conducted at the level of water cooling, providing a tool for readers to estimate potential improvements in energy production, savings, and CO2 reduction based on PV applications with respect to the consumption ratio R, which is the amount of energy being consumed by the house from the PV panels. Results indicate that at minimum efficiency enhancement levels, the photovoltaic-thermal water (PVT-W) system demonstrated the highest values for energy enhancement, savings, and CO2 reduction, averaging 634.57R kWh, $272.86R, and 368.05R kg, respectively. Conversely, at maximum efficiency enhancement levels, the flowing water on the PV surface (PV-WS) system exhibited the highest values with averages of 678.16R kWh, $291.61R, and 393.33R kg, respectively. Furthermore, a linear relationship was observed among energy production, savings, and CO2 reduction concerning relative efficiency enhancement.
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issn 2666-2027
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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series International Journal of Thermofluids
spelling doaj-art-c3dfcbff562a449b8d3fc83f4e9473302024-12-13T11:04:38ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Thermofluids2666-20272024-11-0124100988Theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water—Energy enhancement and environmental-economic insightsTarek Ibrahim0Jalal Faraj1Hicham El Hage2Khaled Chahine3Mehdi Mortazavi4Mahmoud Khaled5Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Lebanese International University LIU, Bekaa, LebanonEnergy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Lebanese International University LIU, Bekaa, Lebanon; Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, The International University of Beirut BIU, Beirut, LebanonEnergy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Lebanese International University LIU, Bekaa, LebanonCollege of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, KuwaitDepartment of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USAEnergy and Thermo-Fluid Group, Lebanese International University LIU, Bekaa, Lebanon; Energy and Thermo-Fluid Group, The International University of Beirut BIU, Beirut, Lebanon; Corresponding author.Fossil fuel consumption is the primary and most influential contributor to global warming. Since fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources that will eventually be depleted, decision-makers are encouraging individuals and businesses to invest in renewable energy systems. Among these, photovoltaic (PV) panels offer a promising solution for combating global warming by generating electricity from solar energy. However, their efficiency diminishes as temperatures rise. Water cooling systems have emerged as highly effective in reducing PV panel temperatures and thereby enhancing efficiency. The current study focuses on theoretical parametric analysis of water-cooled PV panels, specifically examining the intervals of maximum and minimum relative efficiency enhancements suitable for residential applications. It provides energetic, economic, and environmental insights based on mathematical equations, providing theoretical parametric analysis based on relative efficiency enhancement values of water-cooling methods retrieved from the literature due to the lack of parametric studies present on cooling PV panels. Moreover, the scaled parametric analysis conducted is in terms of the PV area, prompting the user to enter the desired PV area to get insights on the possible system to be constructed. Interval and parametric studies were conducted at the level of water cooling, providing a tool for readers to estimate potential improvements in energy production, savings, and CO2 reduction based on PV applications with respect to the consumption ratio R, which is the amount of energy being consumed by the house from the PV panels. Results indicate that at minimum efficiency enhancement levels, the photovoltaic-thermal water (PVT-W) system demonstrated the highest values for energy enhancement, savings, and CO2 reduction, averaging 634.57R kWh, $272.86R, and 368.05R kg, respectively. Conversely, at maximum efficiency enhancement levels, the flowing water on the PV surface (PV-WS) system exhibited the highest values with averages of 678.16R kWh, $291.61R, and 393.33R kg, respectively. Furthermore, a linear relationship was observed among energy production, savings, and CO2 reduction concerning relative efficiency enhancement.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202724004270PhotovoltaicTheoretical parametric studyWater coolingEnergy enhancementEnvironmental-economic insights
spellingShingle Tarek Ibrahim
Jalal Faraj
Hicham El Hage
Khaled Chahine
Mehdi Mortazavi
Mahmoud Khaled
Theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water—Energy enhancement and environmental-economic insights
International Journal of Thermofluids
Photovoltaic
Theoretical parametric study
Water cooling
Energy enhancement
Environmental-economic insights
title Theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water—Energy enhancement and environmental-economic insights
title_full Theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water—Energy enhancement and environmental-economic insights
title_fullStr Theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water—Energy enhancement and environmental-economic insights
title_full_unstemmed Theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water—Energy enhancement and environmental-economic insights
title_short Theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water—Energy enhancement and environmental-economic insights
title_sort theoretical parametric study of photovoltaic cooling by water energy enhancement and environmental economic insights
topic Photovoltaic
Theoretical parametric study
Water cooling
Energy enhancement
Environmental-economic insights
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202724004270
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