Advanced radiative cooler for multi-crystalline silicon solar module. (1st May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Avinash; Chowdhury, Amartya
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 201(2020)
• Page Start: 751
• Page End: 759
• Publication Date: 2020-05-01
• Subjects: Anti-reflection coating -- Crystalline silicon -- Radiative Cooling -- Solar Cell -- Transparent multi-layer thin film; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.03.065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: Passive radiative cooling of c-Si solar cell via transparent multilayer thin film. 5.6 degree centigrade temperature reduction in solar panel using SR-ARC w.r.t. common single layer Si3 N4 ARC. Increased lifetime of solar module. Abstract: The crystalline silicon solar module operates in an outdoor environment and exposed to radiation, ambient temperature and humidity. This paper focuses on the performance and lifetime improvement of the generic commercial single-layered Si3 N4 coated multi-crystalline silicon solar cell with the addition of selective radiative antireflective coating (SR-ARC). We presented a common approach to radiatively lower the temperature of the solar module through atmospheric and sky emission with keeping or increasing the solar absorption in 300–1150 nm wavelength range. The physical, electrical and optical parameters of the generic solar cell have been tested in the laboratory and implemented in simulation. Further solar cell surface texture parameters have been tested and verified by simulation. At optimised thickness emissivity of the SR-ARC has been calculated in the range of 4–25 µm wavelength. The maximum temperature reduction of 6.8 °C estimated in the double-layer SR-ARC module compared to a single antireflection layer coated multi-crystalline silicon solar module. With the application of triple-layer SR-ARC, absorption has increased, but the emission has been reduced compared to the double layer SR-ARC. After 25 years of field operation, due to the application of SR-ARC, the solar module effective power conversion efficiency is expected to improve by another 1% in absolute term.