Citation

Harmailil, Ihsan Okta and Sultan, Sakhr M. and Fudholi, Ahmad and Mohammad, Masita and Tso, Chih Ping (2025) Enhancing PV Module Efficiency Through Fins-and-Tubes Cooling: An Outdoor Malaysian Case Study. Processes, 13 (9). p. 2812. ISSN 2227-9717

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Abstract

One of the most important applications of solar energy is electricity generation using photovoltaic (PV) panels. Yet, as the temperature of PV modules rises, both their efficiency and service life decline. A common approach to mitigate this issue is cooling with fins, a design that is now widely adopted. However, traditional fin-based cooling systems often fail to deliver adequate performance in hot regions with strong solar radiation. In particular, passive cooling alone shows limited effectiveness under conditions of high ambient temperatures and intense sunlight, such as those typical in Malaysia. To address this limitation, hybrid cooling strategies, especially those integrating both air and water, have emerged as promising solutions for enhancing PV performance. In this study, an experimental and economic investigations were carried out on a PV cooling system combining copper tubes and aluminium fins, tested under Malaysian climatic conditions. The economic feasibility was evaluated using the Simple Payback Period (SPP) method. An outdoor test was conducted over four consecutive days (10–13 June 2024), comparing a conventional PV module with one fitted with the hybrid cooling system (active and passive). The cooled module achieved noticeable surface temperature reductions of 2.56 °C, 2.15 °C, 2.08 °C, and 2.58 °C across the four days. The system also delivered a peak power gain of 66.85 W, corresponding to a 2.82% efficiency improvement. Economic analysis showed that the system’s payback period is 4.52 years, with the total energy value increasing by USD 477.88, representing about a 2.81% improvement compared to the reference panel. In summary, the hybrid cooling method demonstrates clear advantages in lowering panel temperature, enhancing electrical output, and ensuring favorable economic performance.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	PV, cooling, outdoor experiments, temperature, power, efficiency
Subjects:	T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering > TK9001-9401 Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET)
Depositing User:	Ms Suzilawati Abu Samah
Date Deposited:	06 Oct 2025 02:12
Last Modified:	06 Oct 2025 03:57
URII:	http://shdl.mmu.edu.my/id/eprint/14667

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