An Experimental Study on Simultaneous Use of Metal Fins and Mirror to Improve the Performance of Photovoltaic Panels

Mohammad Firoozzadeh, Marzieh Lotfi () and Amir Hossein Shiravi
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Mohammad Firoozzadeh: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful 64617-96736, Iran
Marzieh Lotfi: Department of Chemical Engineering, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful 64617-96736, Iran
Amir Hossein Shiravi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful 64617-96736, Iran

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-14

Abstract: The world is inconceivable without an everlasting demand for energy. Nowadays, various kinds of renewable energies, such as solar energy, are developing rapidly, since they have the least negative environmental impacts. Irradiation intensity is one the most important parameters in photovoltaic (PV) technology, and so integration of mirrors with a PV module can improve its performance. Mounting mirrors increases the radiation intensity but, at the same time, raises the surface temperature, which in turn reduces the electrical efficiency. The novelty of this study is keeping the cell temperature low despite receiving more radiation by installing 10 aluminum fins on the back of the panel. All tests were experimentally performed in the hot climate of Dezful, Iran. As a result, the best tilt angle of the mirror was found at 30°, where the output power was enhanced by 3.3% and electrical efficiency was reduced by 0.5% compared with the conventional case. When aluminum fins were added as heat sinks, both output power and electrical efficiency were enhanced by 11.4% and 13.1%, respectively. Moreover, comprehensive discussions on both energy and exergy are provided. The entropy generation was also calculated and accordingly, the case of PV 30 + fin generates 1.6% less entropy than the base one.

Keywords: photovoltaic; energy efficiency; entropy; reflector; fin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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