Cooling of highly concentrated photovoltaic cells with confined jet impingement by introducing channel configurations
File(s)GuptaEtAl2024_Accepted Version.pdf (3.67 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Gupta, Abhishek
Chougule, Sandesh S
Saha, Sandip K
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Appropriate cooling techniques are required to be integrated into highly concentrated photovoltaic cells to maintain the surface of the photovoltaic cell at a uniform temperature. This study focuses on cooling photovoltaic cells with confined jet impingement to reduce non-uniform temperature distribution and thermal and bending stresses to avoid hotspots and current mismatching problems, thereby improving the cell electrical efficiency. Channels are formed in an aluminium heat sink on the backside of solar cell layers such that the coolant strikes the heat sink surface at the centre and exits at the four corners of the module. Different designs of confined jet channel configurations are studied. The effect of the coolant mass flow rate on the hydrothermal performance of the concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPV-T) system is examined for all channel configurations. The electrothermal performance of the CPV-T system is at its maximum with a quadrant mini-channel with a single inlet. The net electrical power generated by the PV cell is at its maximum of 30.5 W for a mass flow rate of 50 g/min with this channel configuration. Further, the pressure loss is minimal at 163 Pa at 25 g/min, and the temperature uniformity is also maximum, with a temperature difference over the cell surface of 6.3 °C at 50 g/min. The present study will be useful in the thermal management of highly concentrated photovoltaic thermal systems and high-temperature applications.
Date Issued
2024-12
Date Acceptance
2024-10-10
Citation
Renewable Energy, 2024, 237 (Part A)
ISSN
0960-1481
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
Renewable Energy
Volume
237
Issue
Part A
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.121600
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
121600
Date Publish Online
2024-10-11