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Which part of the solar panel should i apply water to? Top or bottom part of the solar panel? I think it should be the top part as its directly heated by the sun. Am i right?
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Russes idea has some merit but not a lot. Professional panel dippers are overcharging ive heard.I think it better if you keep then in a cold room.c0nstant cold temperature is good for them.
If you do wish to water cool them Iwould suggest the front side"top" as it would help keep the glass clean also. But there are problems doing this.
(1) If the panels are roof mounted then how do you arrange a small continuous supply of cool water? depending on the number of panels it could end up using a lot of water.
(2)how much power is the pump going to consume ? it could end up more than the panel power gains?Comment
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That's a good question and depends on your panels. If they are the typical Tedlar backed (white thick plastic) then it might be possible to cool them from the back side. But you are going to miss the part where the connection box is mounted and that might cause temperature differences that may eventually crack a cell near there.
I don't know if panels are made to be constantly wet. I know they are sealed but water tends to get into places it shouldn't.
With a little rain now and again, you cook out any moisture that may have come in the side due to the heat of the sun on good days.
The rubber on the frames may help keep it out but that can crack after some years and also pull away from the panel / shrink.
If you constantly wet it from the front you are going to have to worry about mineral deposits building up and that is going to make it harder to clean. And what about algae ?
I would just clean them / spray them every week or so and mount them in a way air can get under them to cool them and if you really want that extra few watts you might gain, buy 1 more panel, they are selling for under $1 a watt now.Comment
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It will take more energy to cool the panel, than the power gained from cooling it. So it is a net loss of energy.MSEE, PEComment
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Just buy more of them and expand the array. If power loss due to heat is a concern, then more power captain!
I can imagine costs added by cooling fins or cooling "systems" would fully negate the slight energy gain by cooled panels.
To me, it is much like other derate issues. Live in a hot climate, you need to get used to heat-losses from solar.PowerOne 3.6 x 2, 32 SolarWorld 255W monoComment
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The solar panel to cool is a 100w panel and i am planning to use a 12v dc water pump like those of windscreen pumps to pump water onto the solar panel. Different timing intervals will be implemented say on for 20mins and off for 20mins. It keeps repeating.Comment
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You realize this is a bad idea, right? Forget the water cooling.PowerOne 3.6 x 2, 32 SolarWorld 255W monoComment
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My guestimation for today is the windscreen washer pump will consume about 1a or 12w the panel gain will be less than 10w .Negitive gain. And as I asked before how do you keep a constant supply of water up on the roof where the panels are? As any container of water is likely to get very hot up there sopanel gains even smaller.? And will need replenishing? how?Comment
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I see those problems . Perhaps its possible to get low miliamperes 12v pumps ?As for the hot water, can we add salt or anything to remove the heat in the water?Comment
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