Electrical Behavior and Optimization of Panels and Reflector of a Photovoltaic Floating Plant

The purpose of this work is to study the PV module efficiency in the presence of flat reflectors that can determine an uneven irradiance on the PV surface. In particular the effect of different connections (in series and/or in parallel) of PV cells strings constituting a PV module is analyzed theoretically and experimentally. Furthermore, the presence of the water cooling system that keeps the temperature of PV cells low and uniform is carefully considered. General considerations are applied to a photovoltaic power plant, floating in the water with tracking and cooling system, that consists in a circular floating platform which supports PV panels. The cooling of the panel is ensured by a veil of water generated by a set of irrigators located on the top of the panel. A set of reflectors on the back of the PV panel further increases the plant efficiency. Two possible solutions for this system have been considered. An experimental set-up has been realized in the laboratory of the University of Catania where two strings of three modules have been installed as well as a string of mirrors on the back of the first row. These different configurations have been studied using a suitable data acquisition system.