Improving Performance of a Photovoltaic Panel by Pin Fins: A Theoretical Analysis
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RESEARCH PAPER
Improving Performance of a Photovoltaic Panel by Pin Fins: A Theoretical Analysis A. Sedaghat1 · M. R. Karami2 · M. Eslami3 Received: 5 June 2019 / Accepted: 11 October 2019 © Shiraz University 2019
Abstract As efficiency of PV modules decreases with temperature rise, cooling methods can increase the power output and efficiency. One of the strategies for this purpose is passive cooling by implementing fins to the backside of a module. In the present study, annual energy output of a 50 W panel is analytically calculated in two unfinned and pin-finned cases based on hourly meteorological data for Shiraz, Iran. The results show that with the installation of 2-cm, 4-cm and 6-cm aluminum pin fins with finned-to-total-backside-area ratios of 0.17, 0.27 and 0.55, the power output increases by 1.24–4.16%, compared to the unfinned case. This increase is equivalent to 1.04–3.50 kWh more electrical energy production during a year. Keywords Solar energy · Photovoltaic panels · Passive cooling · Fin
1 Introduction Due to the limitations of non-renewable energy resources and environmental problems caused by fossil fuel consumption, many countries have turned to renewable energies as a viable source of sustainable power. Given the vast access of many areas to sunlight, the use of photovoltaic panels has received much attention. PV panels produce electric energy by excitement of the electrons when exposed to solar irradiation. The annual weather data of Shiraz city show that the majority of the days are sunny, and as a result, significant solar energy is available (https://energyplus.net/). Performance of PV panels depends on a variety of factors, including environmental conditions, characteristics of the panels and how they are installed. Examples of environmental factors affecting the panel surface temperature are solar radiation, ambient temperature and wind speed (Bücher 1997). According to the previous studies (Hussein et al. 1995), the efficiency of PV panels reduces with an increase * M. Eslami [email protected] 1
School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
2
School of Mechanical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
3
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
in their surface temperature. To prevent this phenomenon, active and passive methods are used to cool the PV panels. Water spraying on the panel (Moharram et al. 2013), using heat exchanger at the back of the PV module (Bahaidarah et al. 2013), mounting fans on the back of a panel (Irwan et al. 2013) and application of micro-heat pipes (Tang et al. 2010) are examples of active methods. Passive cooling methods include using phase change materials (Hasan et al. 2018) and mounting fins behind the panel (Mays et al. 2017; Chen et al. 2014; Gotmare et al. 2015). Mays et al. (2017) have numerically studied the installation of finned plate behind the panel. Their study was based on a silicon-based polycrystalline panel in two types of standard PV and
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