Increasing the Energy Efficiency of Gallium Arsenide Photovoltaic Cells Employing a Phase Change Material Cooling Methodology

These findings emphasize the relationship between the operating temperature of a solar cell and its performance parameters. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current of solar cells exhibit a direct proportionality to the operating temperature of the cell due to their nature as semiconductor devices. According to the panel's characteristics, the open circuit voltage decreases and the short circuit current increases as the temperature increases. Applying water cooling on both sides of the panel produces the most favorable outcomes compared to other cooling methods. This leads to a reduction of approximately 31 degrees Celsius and an efficiency improvement of around 2.7^%. The panels experienced a 1.9% increase in efficiency when they were submerged at a particular depth in water, where the temperature difference between the water and the panels was approximately 25°C. After analyzing the above results, it can be inferred that the efficiency of the panel will improve as the operating temperature approaches the ambient temperature. Although nanofluid cooling technology is a viable alternative, its non-toxic nature poses a challenge to its widespread adoption. The integration of PV panels with phase change materials has demonstrated promising outcomes owing to the extended durability of phase change materials (approximately 2000 cycles) and the reduced temperature decrease (around 15 oC) that ensues. This paper concludes that employing water cooling techniques on both sides of the panel enhances its efficiency, thereby maximizing the juice extracted from the system. W/m² of irradiance and 25°C ambient temperature.