System for Optimizing Efficiency of Solar Systems

Project goal: To design, build and test a device to maintain the ideal temperature range of a solar panel and display the efficiency data on a remote device. Solar panels potentially produce the most power during summer but heat decreases their efficiency as panel temperature climbs above optimal operating range. The cooling system design uses a Peltier module to distribute a temperature difference across the panel, which enables the cooling system to increase the heat rate through the panel and accelerate heat ejection to its surroundings. While monitoring the changes in power efficiency and temperature, sensors relay data to a cloud-based server. This data is then presented to the user for review on a mobile application, which allows the user to view stored data, control system power, and monitor sensor errors.