PV Panel Wicking Evaporator for Passive Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic (PV) thermal management technologies face challenges in achieving high cooling efficiency while minimizing energy and water consumption, and ensuring reliability and climate adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic system incorporating a smart wicking evaporator (SWE) with capillarity-driven siphon flow and climate-adaptive control, utilizing a thin-film hydrophilic wicking evaporator to passively dissipate waste heat through interfacial evaporation with minimal energy input and water consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If active cooling methods (forced circulation of fluids) are used, then cooling efficiency is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator uses capillary action to automatically draw water from the reservoir without requiring external pumps or power sources. The system self-regulates water flow through the porous structure based on evaporation demand, eliminating the need for active fluid circulation systems while maintaining effective cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical pumping systems with capillary forces inherent in porous materials. The passive evaporative cooling system substitutes active mechanical fluid circulation with passive capillary-driven water transport, significantly reducing system complexity and energy consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If passive cooling methods (radiative cooling) are used, then energy consumption is reduced, but cooling power is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor during evaporation, which absorbs substantial latent heat (approximately 2260 kJ/kg). This phase change process provides high cooling power passively, far exceeding what radiative cooling alone can achieve, while still requiring minimal energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator employs porous materials with optimized pore structures to enhance capillary action and increase the surface area available for evaporation. This maximizes the rate of water evaporation and heat absorption, thereby increasing cooling power without requiring additional energy input
3Temperature
If water spray cooling is used, then heat removal efficiency is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator uses porous materials that control water flow through capillary forces, allowing water to be drawn up and evaporated only where needed for cooling. This prevents excessive water application and runoff, significantly reducing water consumption compared to water spray methods while maintaining high heat removal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically regulates water consumption through capillary action, drawing only the amount of water needed for evaporation-based cooling. The porous structure self-regulates flow rates based on evaporation demand, eliminating the water waste associated with continuous spray systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves significant temperature reduction and improved power output by maintaining a stable cooling effect across varying weather conditions, reducing temperature by up to 20°C and enhancing power generation by 27.57% compared to conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first end of the evaporator is adapted to be in close proximity to or in contact with a source of a cooling medium for absorbing the cooling medium by capillary action
Implementation Method 2
the PV module is adapted to be in a heat-transferrable relationship with the cooling medium moving through the evaporator
Implementation Method 3
passive evaporative cooling using a backside evaporator under the PV has received significant research interest
Data Source
AI summary
A photovoltaics (PV) panel includes a PV module (102, 202) with a front face (102a, 202a) for exposure to sunlight and absorbing solar energy for conversion to electric energy and a back face opposite to the front face, and an evaporator (104, 204, 312) engaged with the back face of the PV module, an upper end (106, 206) of the evaporator being in close proximity to or in contact with a water source for absorbing the water by capillary action, the evaporator being of a structure allowing the water to move through, and the PV module being in a heat-transferrable relationship with the water moving through the evaporator.