Condition-based automatic cooling and cleaning system for performance optimization of PV modules.

This paper presents the design and implementation of automatic cooling and cleaning system (ACCS) for PV modules to optimize the performance of the PV module based on electrical efficiency drop resulting from increased cell temperature at loading and dust accumulation on PV module s surfaces. An increase in PV module temperature causes a linear reduction in its performance, affecting electrical power generation. Pressurized water jets by nozzles are used to cool and clean the front surface of the PV module. The theoretical model of the PV module is verified by MATLAB/Simulink software. The operational performance of ACCS was recorded and analyzed. The experimental results showed before cooling, the maximum power produced by the PV module was 65.31W, while after cooling increased by 73.24W. Also, electrical efficiency yield of before cooling the rate of decreasing efficiency 0.052% per 1℃ while after cooling the efficiency increased by 0.13% for each decrease 1℃. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]