A Simulation of the Role of Computer Networks in Increasing the Overall Efficiency of Solar Panels by Photovoltaic and Thermoelectric System Designing

Abstract

In environments where there is an elevation in temperatures, there is likely to be a problem in photovoltaic (PV) modules’ performance, especially in the outdoor. Particularly, elevations in temperature tend to cause a significant loss in the devices’ efficiency of energy conversion, standing as high as 25% loss in the efficiency of conversion. In the roofs, the form of module integration dictates the degree to which there is a loss in conversion efficiency. The implication is that when the modules are cooled, the performance of PVs tends to be enhanced. This study proposed a system design in which the back of PV modules had thermoelectric (TE) converters attached to it, translating into a hybrid module that constituted a PV-TE interface. The motivation of the study was to steer improvements in the efficiency of the target solar panels that would use the integrated PV-TE hybrid system design. It is also notable that pn-junctions, with a large area, were employed toward generating thermoelectric power. Along the pn-junctions, an application of temperature gradients saw the two forms of carriers’ flux to the cold zone, having originated from the hot zone. Compared to other conventional techniques proposed previously for generating thermoelectric power, the proposed PV-TE module was found to yield beneficial outcomes in terms of reduced cost and increased efficiency. At a sample temperature such as 83.00C, specific findings demonstrated that the proposed solar panel system design with PV-TE interface increases the efficiency of the cells to about 10.92%, having been recorded initially (the efficiency) at 6.80% under the same temperature (of 83.00C). Thus, simulations via computer networks are seen to play a beneficial role of informing improvements in solar panel designs, hence enhanced efficiency.