Skripsi
ANALISA PENGGUNAAN REFLEKTOR CERMIN BERLAPIS ALUMUNIUM FOIL PADA SOLAR CELL MONOCRYSTALLINE SEBAGAI SUMBER ENERGI LISTRIK PADA POMPA AIR AC
This study aims to analyze the effect of using flat mirror reflectors coated with aluminum foil on the performance of monocrystalline solar cells in generating electrical energy to operate a 125 Watt Alternating current (AC) water pump. Monocrystalline solar cells were selected due to their high efficiency in converting solar energy, while the reflectors were employed to increase the intensity of solar radiation received by the panels, thereby enhancing their output power. The research method involved testing two system configurations, namely solar panels with aluminum foil reflectors and solar panels without reflectors, each using two 100 Wp solar cell units. Data were collected over a period of 14 days, recording voltage, current, electrical power, and the water discharge rate of the pump. The results indicate that the addition of reflectors significantly improved solar panel performance, with peak power output increasing by up to 42% compared to panels without reflectors. This improvement was mainly attributed to an increase in current, while voltage gains were relatively small (0.2–0.4 V). Water discharge also increased, with a maximum difference of 39%. The highest effectiveness of reflectors was observed under clear weather conditions with high solar radiation, whereas their impact was relatively minor under cloudy conditions. In conclusion, flat mirror reflectors coated with aluminum foil can serve as a simple and effective solution to enhance the performance of monocrystalline solar cells in AC water pump applications.