Scientists in Hong Kong have developed a patch that effectively cools down PV panels and uses waste heat for the production of freshwater. It has three layers: an atmospheric water harvest, a thermal regulation layer and a glue layer. Maximum power density is reportedly increased by more than 28% in a folded version of the ultra -cooling patch.
A research team led by scientists from City University of Hong Kong has developed an Ultra-Cooling patch (UCP) that effectively cools PV panels and uses waste heat for the production of freshwater. According to the developers, the flexibility and leak properties of the patch ensure simple integration with different PV configurations.
“The UCP consists of 3 layers: an atmospheric water harvest (AWH), a thermal regulation layer and a glue layer,” the team explained. “During the night, the UCP moisture from the air, with the aligned channel in the UCP and the radiation cooling effect of the PV panel Synergetic Improving the moisture sorption -Efficiency. During the day, the PV panel electricity and heat -heat can be used. Panel.”
To create the AWH layer, the team started making a sodium alginate hydrogel skeleton with channels. Calcium chloride (CACL₂), a hygroscopic salt, was loaded into the channels to absorb moisture from the air at night. For the heat transmission layer, the group placed a thin copper sheet to help remove the heat from the solar panel in the patch. Finally, a glue layer consisting of silicone gels from different viscosities was added. This allows the UCP to stick to other materials, including polymers, metals, ceramics and glass.
“The PV panel used in the experiment had dimensions of 100 x 100 mm, with an effective area of 8,000.04 mm2. The UCP was observed at the bottom of the PV panel to form PV-URP, which was then placed on a 3D-printed scaffold to facilitate the vapor,” explained the vapor. “Under one irradiation of the sun, the unspoilt PV panel reached a temperature of 60.6 ° C, while the PV-UCP achieved a considerably lower temperature of 38.9 ° C, indicating a substantial reduction of the operating temperature by 21.7 C. Tone-to-date, the maximum output of the PV-Pan.” “
Image: City University of Hong Kong, Advanced Materials, CC by 4.0
With the help of the flexibility of the material, the group also tested the patch in a folded UCP (FUCP) posture. By reforming the UCP to record fins, the interface between the thermal regulation layer and AWH, as well as the interface between the AWH and the air, was increased. The FUCP fixture lowered the PV panel temperature by 29.5 ° C, while it also increased the maximum power density by 28.69% compared to the independent PV panel and almost 8% over the PV-UCP.
The team then evaluated the effectiveness of their strategy on a large -scale business. With the help of marketing melamine sponge and copper tape, they manufactured a FUCP of 2,000 mm x 1,000 mm and installed part of it on the back of a commercial PV panel of 1.270 mm x 760 mm. The panel was placed outside for five days at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
“Under natural sunlight, the FUCP considerably lowered the operating temperature of the PV panel by 21.2 C and 24.7 ° C during the first two days. Due to the cooling effect, the performance of the wealth was rose from 102.9 W to 115.1 W,” the researchers thought. “By integrating a condensing room behind the PV panel, more than 2.2 kg of water could be collected during the day, which can be used for domestic consumption and self-cleaning of the PV panels.”
The results appeared in “Passive ultra -cooling patch, making very efficient power of power water possible“Published in Advanced materials. Researchers at City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Australia’s University of Adelaide and the University of Nottingham of the United Kingdom have participated in the study.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to work with us and reuse part of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Popular content
