Thermal modeling and the optimized design of metal plate cooling systems for single concentrator solar cells

A metal plate cooling model for 400~ single concentrator solar cells was established. The effects of the thickness and the radius of the metal plate, and the air environment on the temperature of the solar cells were analyzed in detail. It is shown that the temperature of the solar cells decreased sharply at the beginning, with the increase in the thickness of the metal plate, and then changed more smoothly. When the radius of the metal plate was 4 cm and the thickness increased to 2 mm or thicker, the temperature of the solar cell basically stabilized at about 53℃. Increasing the radius of the metal plate and the convective transfer coefficient made the temperature of the solar cell decrease remarkably. The effects of A1 and Cu as the metal plate material on cooling were analyzed contrastively, and demonstrated the superiority of A1 material for the cooling system. Furthermore, considering cost reduction, space holding and the stress of the system, we optimized the structural design of the metal plate. The simulated results can be referred to the design of the structure for the metal plate. Finally, a method to devise the structure of the metal plate for single concentrator solar cells was given.

Thermal analysis and test for single concentrator solar cells

A thermal model for concentrator solar cells based on energy conservation principles was designed. Under 400X concentration with no cooling aid, the cell temperature would get up to about 1200 ？C. Metal plates were used as heat sinks for cooling the system, which remarkably reduce the cell temperature. For a fixed concentration ratio, the cell temperature reduced as the heat sink area increased. In order to keep the cell at a constant temperature, the heat sink area needs to increase linearly as a function of the concentration ratio. GaInP/GaAs/Ge triple-junction solar cells were fabricated to verify the model. A cell temperature of 37 ？C was measured when using a heat sink at 400X concentration.

Thermal modeling optimization and experimental validation for a single concentrator solar cell system with a heat sink

A single concentrator solar cell model with a heat sink is established to simulate the thermal performance of the system by varying the number, height, and thickness of fins, the base thickness and thermal resistance of the thermal conductive adhesive. Influence disciplines of those parameters on temperatures of the solar cell and heat sink are obtained. With optimized number, height and thickness of fins, and the thickness values of base of 8, 1.4 cm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm, the lowest temperatures of the solar cell and heat sink are 41.7 ~C and 36.3 ~C respectively. A concentrator solar cell prototype with a heat sink fabricated based on the simulation optimized structure is built. Outdoor temperatures of the prototype are tested. Temperatures of the solar cell and heat sink are stabilized with time continuing at about 37 ℃-38 ℃ and 35 ℃-36 ℃respectively, slightly lower than the simulation results because of effects of the wind and cloud. Thus the simulation model enables to predict the thermal performance of the system, and the simulation results can be a reference for designing heat sinks in the field of single concentrator solar cells.

Optimization of grid design for solar cells

By theoretical simulation of two grid patterns that are often used in concentrator solar cells, we give a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the influence of the metal grid dimension and various losses directly associated with it during optimization of grid design. Furthermore, we also perform the simulation under different concentrator factors, making the optimization of the front contact grid for solar cells complete.

Performance Improving of a Concentrating Photovoltaic System by Using a New Optical Adhesive

The objective of this present study is to manufacture a new silicone-based adhesive which is used for gluing and bonding the second optical elements (SOE) with Concentrating Photovoltaic solar cell (CPV) in order to guarantee a thickness that can provide a good silicone adherence to obtain long term stability and keeping a good solar transmittance performance, too. This new adhesive is made up of a mixture of silicone and transparent glass balls. The experimental part consists of the choice of the best size of glass balls with the suitable proportion of the glass balls weight in the mixture. For this purpose, ten samples were manufactured for every category of glass balls and weight ratio. Glass ball sizes between 100 and 1100 μm, and weight ratios between 1 and 10% were analyzed. For each category of glass balls, four proportions were mixed with the silicone. The thicknesses and transmittance of every sample were measured with appropriate instruments. The experimental results illustrate that the mixture containing balls with sizes inferior to 106 μm, is the best mixture which assures adhesive minimum thickness value necessary for an efficient mechanical bond and preserves also a good transmittance of solar irradiance.

Enhanced Heat Transfer of Carbon Nanotube Nanofluid Microchannels Applied on Cooling Gallium Arsenide Cell

Carbon nanotube nanofluids have wide application prospects due to their unique structure and excellent properties.In this study,the thermal conductivity properties of carbon nanotube nanofluids and SiO2/water nanofluids were compared and analyzed experimentally using different preparation methods.The physical properties of nanofluids were tested using a Malvern Zetasizer Nano Instrument and a Hot Disk Thermal Constant Analyzer.Combined with field synergy theory analysis of the heat transfer performance of nanofluids,results show that the thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube nanofluids is higher than that of SiO2/water nanofluids,and the thermal conductivity of nanofluid rises with the increase of mass fraction and temperature.Moreover,the synergistic performance of carbon nanotube nanofluids is also superior to that of SiO2/water nanofluids.When the mass fraction of the carbon nanotube nanofluids is 10%and the SiO2/water nanofluids is 8%,their field synergy numbers and heat transfer enhancement factors both reach maximum.From the perspective of the preparation method,the thermal conductivity of nanofluids dispersed by high shear microfluidizer is higher than that by ultrasonic dispersion.This result provides some reference for the selection and use of working substance in a microchannel cooling concentrated photovoltaic and thermal(CPV/T)system.