Comparative performance evaluation of c-Si and GaAs type PV cells with and without anti-soiling coating using energy and exergy analysis

In this research, thermodynamic modeling and analysis of the PV cells with different semiconductors and anti-soiling coatings (ASC) is comparatively conducted. The novelty of this work originates from applying the detailed thermodynamic analysis in cell level for different types of PV cell materials namely; Si and GaAs having anti-soiling coating. In addition, a performance comparison between anti-soiling coated PV cells and uncoated PV cells is carried out. The results revealed that anti-soiling coated PV cells will have higher exergy and energy efficiencies than the uncoated PV panels for different types of materials after dust exposure of about two weeks. The exergy efficiencies of GaAs type PV cell are found to be 14.6% and 15.21% for the uncoated and coated cases, respectively. The exergy efficiency for the uncoated Si type cell is found to be 15.13%, whereas it is about 15.74% for the anti-soiling coated Si cell. At 298 K of ambient temperature, the energy and exergy efficiencies are calculated as 14.66% and 15.33% for the coated cells of the GaAs type. Anti-soiling coated PVs perform better than uncoated counterparts after two weeks of dust exposure corresponding to about 0.6% higher exergy efficiency. In addition, the results imply that the cell casing has the highest contribution to the exergy destruction mainly due to significant heat transfer to the surroundings.