Homemade Panel using mineral oil?

[Dervish]

Hey all

I am getting ready to build some diy panels and have been wondering about the methods of sealing the panels and such.
Everything i am reading sounds very expensive. I want to create something this is most cost effective. I read another
post where a fellow bought a storm window with a metal frame around it for something like 10 bucks. I think he was
going to use some kind of resin or epoxy to pour over the panels to seal them.

But what if a person was to buy 2 storm windows per panel and sandwich the solar cells in between, seal the edges
of the sandwiched window framed together, drill a hole in the top of the metal and fill it full of mineral oil? The idea comes
from submerging an entire desktop computer in an aquarium full of mineral oil. The system still works and the oil removes
the heat. The oil is waterproof and freeze proof so in theory it sounds like a match made in heaven.

Thoughts?

[russ]

A good way to heat the oil and reduce the light getting to the cells.

[Dervish]

was thinking at most there would be no more than 1/4 inch of oil on the cells. its also the same thing chicks use to burn when tanning,
so its got to allow light through to some extent. i could prolly get it closer to the top pane of glass with spacers. the oil should
circulate in the panel by itself by heating and cooling. the oil can take the heat.

can you explain in detail why it wouldn't work?

[russ]

Sorry but I have no interest in explaining what is obvious. The oil will definitely reduce the amount of light reaching the cell - you can try it by placing oil between panes and a light meter behind.

[Dervish]

wow ok no offense bud but i put this here discussion not "Sorry but I have no interest in explaining what is obvious." why even reply to the post at all?

FYI there are companies using this same method i purposed for the same exact reason. I found this out after asking the question and doing a google search lol.

Here is what i found for anyone else wondering the same thing. The oil doesnt hurt the cells nor does it hinder the amount of collection much if at all. The major
hurtle is keeping the oil cool. In keeping the oil cool the cells become more efficient.

http://www.alt-energy.info/solar-power/solar-cells-capture-heat-and-light/

Ill thank you russ not to reply to any more of my topics please. Not looking to offend anyone but russ you come across as holier than thou and im not here
to wade through drama to gain useful info...k thanks.

[Dervish]

I might be saying this out loud so to speak or type lol...

Rigging up some kinda of heat sinks or some kinda of thermal driven piping to cool the oil would prolly make this work pretty good. Has anyone else
done anything like this before?

[inetdog]

Here is what i found for anyone else wondering the same thing. The oil doesnt hurt the cells nor does it hinder the amount of collection much if at all. The major
hurtle is keeping the oil cool. In keeping the oil cool the cells become more efficient.

http://www.alt-energy.info/solar-power/solar-cells-capture-heat-and-light/

That article describes concentrating PV cells, which are a very different animal and have to deal with a very high heat transfer from a small surface area of cell.
The same problems do not exist in a conventional full area cell. That makes the tradeoff between cost and light absorption and high heat transfer ability less favorable to oil. The concentrating cell also has a large volume thick layer of oil which can transfer heat via bulk movement, and this would not happen in a thin layer of oil between a cell and a covering panel.
It may still be a viable idea, but it is by no means a slam dunk.

[russ]

Hey there - when you come up spouting loony stuff and someone points it out you get all upset.

If you want to know about concentrators that need cooling look at http://www.arontis.se/solar/

The guy in the photo I have had contacts with in the past and they are neat water cooled systems - just not cost effective. They also have an English language site - you find it.

[PNjunction]

Rigging up some kinda of heat sinks or some kinda of thermal driven piping to cool the oil would prolly make this work pretty good. Has anyone else done anything like this before?

The reasons why we won't try this have already been given - but I see the wheels turning. Instead of arguing about it, as long as you are safe and financially responsible with the project go ahead. What you learn may open you to other areas of discovery, but do us a favor and provide some data from your experimentation. I'm always disappointed that the advice freely given here is not always met with the return favor of any sort of results.

But are you ready for success? If you were wanting to take this commercial and march into my office looking for investment, the first thing I'd have to see is that you've accomplished at LEAST a doubling of efficiency, otherwise all the oil, heatsinks, and pumps would have to be way more efficient than just paralleling a second standard panel to another standard panel. Otherwise the cost and complexity might be a very hard sell.

In the end, it might be hard to tell if you'll be laughing all the way to the bank, or crying coming home from it.

[Jaiman]

The reasons why we won't try this have already been given - but I see the wheels turning. Instead of arguing about it, as long as you are safe and financially responsible with the project go ahead. What you learn may open you to other areas of discovery, but do us a favor and provide some data from your experimentation. I'm always disappointed that the advice freely given here is not always met with the return favor of any sort of results.

But are you ready for success? If you were wanting to take this commercial and march into my office looking for investment, the first thing I'd have to see is that you've accomplished at LEAST a doubling of efficiency, otherwise all the oil, heatsinks, and pumps would have to be way more efficient than just paralleling a second standard panel to another standard panel. Otherwise the cost and complexity might be a very hard sell.

In the end, it might be hard to tell if you'll be laughing all the way to the bank, or crying coming home from it.

You are right when its all said and done we're trying to reduce the effect that power generation has on our planet if we have to MANUFACTURE all this extra (and pollute)for little gain then it comes to going with what will make our environmental footprint as small as possible

[russ]

The mineral oil is very useful for enhancing the panel capacity. The panel accelerates
more quickly with the help of this this oil and remove all the resistance of the panel.

Baloney!

[FloridaSun]

Baloney!

hahahaha! "remove all the resistance of the panel." sounds like a dead short to me....

[Sunking]

The mineral oil is very useful for enhancing the panel capacity. The panel accelerates
more quickly with the help of this this oil and remove all the resistance of the panel.

Your full of crap.

[Sunking]

" sounds like a dead short to me....

Mineral oil or any oil for that matter are insulators. Utility Transformers are filled with mineral oil for cooling.

[FloridaSun]

Mineral oil or any oil for that matter are insulators. Utility Transformers are filled with mineral oil for cooling.

yes, familiar with that, but referring to 'removing all resistance' not working at all.. makes bout as much sense as plexiglass being more transparent than glass.