DESIGN AND TESTING OF THERMOSIPHON PASSIVE, COOLING SYSTEM TO OPTIMIZE THE PERFORMANCE OF FLOATING PV ARRAY AT SAGULING WATER RESERVOIR

• Main Author: Muhammad Nur, Aditya
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik (Rekayasa, enjinering dan kegiatan berkaitan)
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/81130
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The purpose of this study is to test the thermosiphon passive cooling system for photovoltaic (PV) array application. In the previous study, the smaller laboratorium scale prototype of thermosiphon passive cooling system has succesfully tested to improve single PV module with artificial water reservoir at the roof top of research and innovation building (PAU) ITB, Bandung. For this study, the thermosiphon passive cooling system is integrated to PV array system and the experiment is conducted at Saguling water reservoir, West Java. The experiment in this study were carried out on 3 conditions, namely ground test, normal floating test (without a thermosiphon passive cooling system), and thermosiphon floating test. During the floating test, the PV array and thermosiphon system are installed on a floating platform specifically designed to accommodate the cooling system with optimal buoyancy capabilities. Ground test result shows that PV array has a highest average temperature of 51.61°C. PV array average temperature is reduced to 49.57°C with normal floating test. Lowest average temperature of 41.11°C is achieved with thermosiphon floating test. Lower average temperature add benefits to PV array performance enhancement. Normal floating test yields both 7.49% for higher power and efficiency compared to ground test. Thermosiphon floating test yields better result with 11.85% higher power and 11.02% higher efficiency compared to ground test. Thus installing a thermosiphon passive cooling system provides power and efficiency gain of 4.36 and 3.53%, to a floating PV array without thermosiphon passive cooling. The experiment shows that the thermosiphon passive cooling system is capable to be applied to a larger system.