Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Water Cooling Method on Temperature Distribution and Efficiency of Photovoltaic

Fossil fuels continue to dominate energy use, despite growing environmental concerns, underscoring the need for renewable energy solutions. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight but lose efficiency from heat, requiring cooling methods such as photovoltaic thermal systems. This study evaluated a PVT system with three serpentine tubes under varied conditions using computational fluid dynamics simulations. Testing involved water coolant flow rates of 0.001, 0.005, and 0.009 kg/s, radiation intensities of 200, 400, and 600 W/m², and tube diameters of 15 mm and 17 mm. Increasing the mass flow rate significantly reduced temperature and improved thermal efficiency, while electrical efficiency remained stable as the PV panel temperature mainly influenced it. The optimal cooling performance was achieved with a 0.009 kg/s mass flow rate and a 15 mm tube diameter at 600 W/m² radiation intensity. These findings suggest water-based cooling may increase PV system performance and reliability, especially in high solar locations.