Thermal and electrical performance enhancement of photovoltaic modules using evaporative cooling under hot-arid conditions

Rising temperatures adversely affect the output power and efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) modules by reducing their open-circuit voltage. Many studies have focused on the evaporative cooling of photovoltaic modules using a single material, with limited investigations into real-world outdoor performance and comparative analyses of different cloth structures. To address this problem, an experimental evaluation of a low-cost evaporative cooling system under real outdoor conditions was conducted, along with a comparative analysis of cotton and jute cloth-based cooling structures. The cloths were affixed to the PV module's back surface and supplied with water via a gravity-driven system to maintain continuous wetting. Experiments were conducted during peak sunlight hours to assess performance under hot weather conditions. The outcomes show that the average module temperature dropped by 24.08% for cotton and 28.54% for jute, resulting in an increase in electrical efficiency of 8.5% and 10%, respectively. The corresponding output power increased by 4.72 W and 5.67 W relative to the referent module over the entire day. The superior performance of jute is attributed to its greater water retention and improved evaporative cooling ability. Furthermore, the proposed system has a payback period of 6.5 years, compared to 5 years for the referent module system.