Power Generation and Water Conservation Potentials for Several Photovoltaic Configurations Installed over a Fresh Water Surface

Rana A. Kewan, Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
Mohamed S. Salem, Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, EgyptFollow
Mohamed R. Elmarghany, Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
Maher Bekheit, Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
Gamal I. Sultan, Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

Subject Area

Mechanical Power Engineering

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

One of the challenges that face photovoltaic systems is depleting performance if their average temperature increases due to solar radiation. Floating photovoltaic (FPV) and submerged photovoltaic (SPV) systems offer a potential solution to such problem. Another major benefit is the decrease of water evaporation by creating an artificial shadow over water. In this paper, an experimental study is presented that includes three different systems: an inclined PV by 30⸰ over water (IPV), an SPV, and an FPV systems and compares their performance with that of a conventional PV system under the same operating conditions. The FPV and SPV systems exhibited average lower panel temperatures of about 8.05⸰C, and 7.39⸰C than the conventional PV unit. They also exhibited an increase in output power up to16.68% and 15.96% and an efficiency enhancement up to 4.43% and 4.23% respectively. The proposed systems also affected the water surface temperature, as their average temperatures significantly declined due to the panels shadow effect. The IPV system caused the lowest average water surface temperature. This temperature reduction led to a decrease of the water evaporation rate, with the FPV unit having the highest reduction value of about 27.5% compared to uncovered water surfaces. A specific saving rate of power and water were used to determine the most beneficial system combining the output power, and water preservation. The FPV unit displayed the highest value of specific power saving rate among all other systems, with an average value of about 27.91, as well as the greatest specific water saving rate with a value of 36%. Therefore, the FPV module proposes a viable candidate for solar generation applications over freshwater resources.

Keywords

Photovoltaics; Floating PV; Submerged PV; Evaporation reduction; power generation.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Kewan, Rana A.; Salem, Mohamed S.; Elmarghany, Mohamed R.; Bekheit, Maher; and Sultan, Gamal I. (2024) "Power Generation and Water Conservation Potentials for Several Photovoltaic Configurations Installed over a Fresh Water Surface," Mansoura Engineering Journal: Vol. 49 : Iss. 4 , Article 8.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.58491/2735-4202.3212

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