Optimization and feasibility analysis of a microscale pin‐fins heat sink of an ultrahigh concentrating photovoltaic system

Abstract

Nowadays, the most recent optical configuration based on Cassegrain and Fresnel lens designs of concentrator photovoltaic(CPV) has shown a race to achieve the ultrahigh concentration ratio. Still, none of those has experimentally shown an optical concentration ratio (GC) beyond 2000 suns. This is because their energy concentration ratios are challenged by the excessive temperature raised throughout the optical stages, which diminishes the efficiency of the solar cell. In this context, this research work aims to numerically investigate a microscale pin-fins heat sink configuration to enhance the thermal performance and the cost-competitivity of ultrahigh CPV thermal receiver. The impacts of the solar cell area, cell efficiency, and heat sink's material have been analyzed and discussed. The results showed that a circular pin-fins heat sink could accomplish a drop of 23.28% in the maximum operating cell temperature at 10 000 suns for cell area of 1 × 1 mm 2 relatively compared to the conventional flat-plate heat sink. Furthermore, for a circular pin-fins heat sink with a cell area of 2 × 2 mm 2 , the cell temperature started exceeding the safe operating range of temperature (80 C) at 8000 suns with an average temperature of 96.1 C and reaching a maximum of 113.91 C at 10 000 suns. A gradient temperature on the planar direction of the aluminum circular pin-fins heat sink was about 1.187 C at 10 000 suns whereas 0.703 C was recorded in the case of a copper circular pin-fins heat sink. The circular pin-fins heat sink showed the highest thermal performance resulting in maintaining the solar cell temperature within its safe operating range even beyond 10 000 suns. From an economic point of view, aluminum circular pin-fins heat sink has been found to be less costly than the copper one. Finally, it was found that at 8000 suns, the flat-plate heat sink cost is more expensive than the traditional pin-fins heat sink by 14.7%, where the flat-plate heat sink becomes the worst economic configuration at 10 000 suns. At that concentration ratio, the cost has increased by 43.38%, 5.75%, and 10.61% compared to the traditional pin-fins heat sink, cylindrical pin-fins heat sink, and circular pin-fins heat sink, respectively.

Novel trimmed heat extraction system for high‐concentration photovoltaic in hot climate zones

“…The total input power of the incident solar irradiance can be calculated as follows 34 : where DNI is the direct normal irradiance, CR is the concentration ratio (×500‐×2000), is the optical efficiency of primary optics and is the active cell surface area.…”

Performance analysis of a single cell‐ultra‐high concentration photovoltaic thermal module based on pin‐fins cooling microchannel

“…Nevertheless, the temperature distribution at the lowest CR of 500Â is more reliable than in the highest CR, as shown in Figure 16, because of the reduction in the heat generated throughout the MJSC. 24 From these outcomes, it could be concluded that the management of the in-line cylindrical arrangement for the UHCPV/T system is expected to be more beneficial, with a drop in the maximum temperature of the MJSC and an enhancement in the temperature distribution uniformity.…”

“…AlFalah et al 24 carried out an investigation on a passive cooling of an ultra-high concentrating photovoltaic system using pin fin heat sinks. The CR was ranged from 2000Â to 12 000Â.…”

A comprehensive study of pin fins cooling channel for a single‐cell concentration photovoltaic system under ultra‐high concentration ratios

“…However, the UHCPV modules are exposed to extremely high temperatures experienced by the solar cell or the packed densely array leading to the initiation of cracks in the solar cells, electrical performance degradation and increased the operating costs as a result of employing sophisticated active cooling mechanisms. Recently, Gaeet et al 29 numerically developed and studied three passively cooled inline (PFHS)s for a MJSC under ultra-high CR of up to 12 000. It was found that the circular pin-fins were able to retain the peak operating cell temperature lower than 60 C for a cell surface area of 1 × 1 mm 2 and an ambient temperature of 20 .…”