Comparative Analysis of Material Efficiency and the Impact of Perforations on Heat Sinks for Monocrystalline Photovoltaic Panel Cooling

Raúl Cabrera-Escobar, José Cabrera-Escobar (), David Vera, Francisco Jurado, Lenin Orozco-Cantos, Manolo Córdova-Suárez and Félix García-Mora
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Raúl Cabrera-Escobar: Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
José Cabrera-Escobar: Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba 060110, Ecuador
David Vera: Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Francisco Jurado: Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Lenin Orozco-Cantos: Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba 060110, Ecuador
Manolo Córdova-Suárez: Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba 060110, Ecuador
Félix García-Mora: Faculty of Mechanics, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, Ecuador

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: In this research, the design and simulation of a heat sink for photovoltaic panels were carried out using aluminum and copper, the most commonly used materials in heat dissipation systems. This heat sink consisted of fins that were tested both perforated and non-perforated to improve heat dissipation efficiency. This research stems from the need to reduce the temperature of photovoltaic panels during operation, as scientific evidence shows that photovoltaic panels experience a decrease in efficiency as the temperature increases, taking as a reference the temperature under standard test conditions. The simulations of photovoltaic panels with aluminum and copper fins, both perforated and non-perforated, followed a rigorous methodology. For validation, the simulation results were compared with field data, yielding a mean absolute percentage error of 1.71%. The findings indicate that copper fins reduced the temperature of the photovoltaic panel by 2.62 K, resulting in a 1.31% increase in efficiency. Similarly, aluminum fins reduced the temperature by 2.10 K, with a 1.05% increase in efficiency. Perforated copper fins achieved a temperature reduction of 3.07 K, increasing efficiency by 1.54%, while perforated aluminum fins reduced the temperature by 2.49 K, contributing to a 1.25% increase in efficiency.

Keywords: heat dissipation; PV; heat fins; FEM; solar energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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