Optimizing Solar Panel Cooling: A Smart Approach using Arduino and IoT Integration

¹ Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Tirupati - 517507, India
² Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, K.S.R.M College of Engineering (Autonomous), Kadapa - 516005, India
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
⁴ Department of Electrical Engineering, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun - 248002, India
⁵ Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
⁶ Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, 248002, India

^* Corresponding author: priyadarshini@ksrmce.ac.in

Abstract

The design and implementation of an automated cooling system for solar panels using an Arduino microcontroller, temperature sensor, voltage, relay, and Central Processing Unit (CPU) fan are detailed in this paper. The objective of the system is to enhance the efficiency of photo voltaic panels by maintaining their temperature within an optimal range. The system utilizes a temperature sensor and voltage sensor to continuously monitor the temperature of the photo voltaic panel. The Arduino microcontroller receives temperature readings from the sensor and based on the measured temperature, the microcontroller determines whether cooling is required. When the temperature exceeds a predefined threshold, the microcontroller triggers a motor driver module to switch ON the connected to a CPU fan and pump on. The motor driver controls the speed of the fan based on temperature. The fan, placed strategically near the photo voltaic panel, creates airflow that helps dissipate heat from the panel's surface. It periodically checks the temperature and controls the fan accordingly.