Research shows that solar panels become less efficient as their temperature rises. This highlights the need for a way to cool solar panels to bring their temperature down to a range where they are most efficient.
Solar Squad’s proposed solution is to use a heat-pipe in order to regular the panel’s temperature. A heat pipe is a pipe that runs under the panels and can move the heat and use it elsewhere like in a solar water heater. It works based on the concepts of convection and gravity. A low pressure is established in the pipe to create a low boiling point. As the panel heats up, the fluid in the pipe absorbs the heat, changes from liquid to gaseous state, rises up and passes through a radiator that is placed at a height greater than the panel itself. Upon cooling, it returns to a liquid state, and due to gravitational pull, returns through the pipe to its original location under the panel, ready to cool it down once more. This solution is self-sustaining, although maintenance and regular fluid replacement would be required. The team aims to make the system straightforward enough for people to be able to carry out basic maintenance and fluid replacement on their own, without requiring experts.
