Photovoltaic Cells Powering Cooling Systems

Abstract: This master thesis project was carried out at the Division of Innovation Engineering at Lund University and at Axis Communications AB in Lund. The thesis has investigated the possibility of using PV cells as a direct power source for small scale applications to meet the problems of heat management in electrical equipment. The investigation has been performed on a global level as well as on a local level as a case study. The case study was performed at Axis Communications AB where a prototype was to be designed as a proof of concept of a PV system directly powering a cooling system to prevent cameras from overheating. The prototype was to be designed as a solar protection cap with an integrated PV system. The PV system was to power two fans. The fans were integrated in the solar cap design with the aim to lower the temperature of the camera of interest, namely a fixed dome P32 camera. The project aimed to find how the integrated PV system could be designed and with the case study to demonstrate how the PV system could power an active cooling system. The PV system was designed to optimize the power production at critical temperatures and irradiation. Dubai was the location in focus for the case study, where heat management of cameras is a problem. The results consisted of a comparison between the cooling effects from the prototype and an existing solar cap solution without integrated active cooling. The results showed that the temperature of the camera with the prototype was lower than that of the camera with the existing solution under direct illumination. The project results can be used as an example of how an accessory product with an integrated PV cell system can power a desired application, in this case two fans that successfully lowers the camera temperature.