The Solar Panel Passive Cooling Using Circular Pipe Heatsink Filled with Water

The use of solar panels is an alternative source of electrical energy. However, the performance of solar panels still has drawbacks when it gets excessive solar heat. This study aims to improve the output performance of solar panels. The method used is by adding a passive cooling system on the back side of the 55Wp monocrystalline solar panel. The three solar panels used in the test were treated differently, namely without cooling (standard), using a heatsink cooler, and using a heatsink cooler plus a circular metal pipe filled with fixed water. Tests are carried out in the field following changes in natural weather conditions. Standard solar panel output measurement data is used for reference or comparison of output measurement data for two solar panels that use cooling. The results show that the trend of peak irradiation at the time of testing ranges from 09.05 to 15.45, with a maximum value of 1299.6 watt/m2. The increase in the surface temperature of the solar panels can be reduced to 14.3°C or 25.18% by cooling the heatsink, and 15.1°C or 26.58% by cooling the heatsink plus pipes. The solar panel output voltage is higher by 0.88 volts or 4.71 % using a heatsink, and 1.24 volts or 6.63% using a heatsink plus pipes. The solar panel output current is higher by 0.078 amperes or 4.15% using a heatsink, and 0.114 amperes or 6.07% using a heatsink plus pipes. The maximum output power of solar panels is 37.91 watts or an efficiency of 13.89% without cooling, 38.38 watts or 13.95% efficiency using a heatsink, and 39.72 watts or an efficiency of 14.55% using a heatsink plus pipes. So it can be concluded that the performance of solar panels with a heatsink cooled added by a circular metal pipe is better in this study.