A Portable Active Photovoltaic Solar Energy System in Treating Wastewaters by Electrocoagulation

Abstract

This study presents the effects of adding some provisions to a portable photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system to obtain both DC and ac sources. An efficient ac high-speed fan was powered from this system to cool the PV module for reducing its power loss because of a temperature rise. A DC electrocoagulation (EC) cell was powered from the active PV system to treat real dairy wastewater. The results revealed that about 5 % loss in maximum power output of the PV module at 25 C was avoided by the added provisions while the EC cell efficiently treated the tested wastewater. For this wastewater, the maximum removal efficiencies of turbidity, suspended pollutants, and chemical oxygen demand were 97, 62, and 72.5 %, respectively. The cell effluent complied with the Egyptian requirements for discharge on public sewer system. This work indicates the technical feasibility of raising the efficiency of PV modules while producing both ac and DC sources. ? 2021 ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959.