Solar PV Cooling and Power Distribution for Holistic Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar photovoltaic systems lack a holistic control system that optimally manages energy generation and consumption, failing to account for environmental factors, local pricing structures, and additional components affecting energy generation and use.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a solar photovoltaic generation system, energy storage, cold storage, heat bank, and a computer-controlled system that introduces liquid cooling and cleaning to solar photovoltaic cells based on input parameters to increase efficiency, and optimally distributes power output among components to achieve user-defined objectives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid cooling is introduced to solar photovoltaic cells, then efficiency increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cooling and cleaning functions into a single liquid circulation system. The liquid serves dual purposes: cooling the photovoltaic cells to maintain efficiency and cleaning the panel surfaces to remove soiling, thereby addressing multiple degradation mechanisms through one integrated system rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulating liquid performs multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the photovoltaic cells to prevent temperature-induced efficiency loss, cleans the panel surfaces by removing dust and soiling, and serves as a heat transfer medium. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate cooling and cleaning systems.
2Productivity
If holistic control system is implemented to manage energy generation and consumption, then energy management optimization improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors multiple parameters including solar irradiance, cell temperature, power output, energy storage levels, and consumption patterns. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts liquid flow rates, pumping power, and energy distribution to optimize overall system performance and respond to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates forecasting capabilities that predict future solar generation and energy consumption patterns. This allows the control system to proactively adjust operations in advance, such as pre-charging energy storage or pre-cooling panels, to optimize performance before conditions change rather than reacting after degradation occurs.
3Productivity
If environmental factors are accounted for in system design, then efficiency loss from soiling and temperature reduces, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulating liquid system simultaneously addresses both temperature effects and soiling effects. The same liquid that cools the cells also cleans the surfaces, so the system monitors and manages both thermal and optical degradation mechanisms through a unified approach rather than requiring separate detection and treatment 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
Enhances solar photovoltaic system efficiency by up to 10%, reduces energy demand from the grid, and achieves cost savings by effectively managing energy distribution and storage, while minimizing energy export to the grid.
Implementation Method 1
generating power at a solar photovoltaic cell
Implementation Method 2
introducing liquid cooling and cleaning to the solar photovoltaic cell
Implementation Method 3
introducing liquid cooling and cleaning to the solar photovoltaic cell
Implementation Method 4
recovering heat from the liquid introduced to the solar photovoltaic cell
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises generating power at a solar photovoltaic cell; receiving, at a controller, one or more input parameters pertaining to a power output of the solar photovoltaic cell; introducing liquid to the solar photovoltaic cell in response to the power output of the solar photovoltaic cell to increase the efficiency of the solar photovoltaic cell; recovering heat from the liquid introduced to the solar photovoltaic cell; and selecting an appropriate distribution of the power output of the solar photovoltaic cell to one or more power-drawing components in a way that maximizes a chosen objective for the whole of system.