Enhancement of PV Panel Power Production by Passive Cooling Using Heat Sinks with Perforated Fins
Source abstract
Abstract
This paper presents a numerical model regarding the passive cooling of PV panels through perforated and non-perforated heat sinks. A typical PV panel was studied in a fixed position, tilted at 45 degrees from the horizontal with the wind direction towards its backside. A challenging approach was used in order to calibrate the base case of the numerical model according to the NOCT conditions. Further validation of the accuracy of the numerical simulation consisted of a comparison between the results obtained for the base case, or heat sink, with horizontal non-perforated fins and the experiments presented in the literature. Six types of heat sink attached to the backside of the PV panel were numerically studied. The analyzed configurations focused on heat sinks with both perforated and non-perforated fins that were distributed horizontally and vertically. The CFD simulation was also conducted by modeling the air volume around the PV panel in real wind conditions. The main output parameters were the average temperature and the convective heat transfer coefficient on the front and back of the PV panel. The most important effect of cooling was achieved in low wind conditions and high levels of solar radiation. For vair = 1 m/s, G = 1000 W/m2 and ambient temperature tair = 35 °C, the percentage of maximum power production achieved 83.33% for the base case, while in the best cooling scenario it reached 88.74%, assuring a rise in the power production of 6.49%.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems · Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques · Heat Transfer Mechanisms
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iași, Romania
Funding
Unitatea Executiva Pentru Finantarea Invatamantului Superior a Cercetarii Dezvoltarii si Inovarii
References (50)
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