Heat Transfer Enhancement and Thermal Management of Concentrated Photovoltaic Thermal Systems Using Passive Finned Heat Sinks: An Experimental Study

This study presents a rigorous outdoor experimental investigation in thermal management of a concentrated photovoltaic/thermal (CPVT) system using passive finned heat sinks (FHSs). The work was conducted in a semi-arid, high-solar-intensity region in Iran. The research addresses the critical need for cost-effective, maintenance-free cooling solutions to mitigate thermal degradation in high-flux solar applications. The primary novelty lies in the experimental validation of a specifically designed FHS assembly integrated via high-thermal-conductivity adhesive, bridging the gap between theoretical models and real-world performance. Unlike typical idealized numerical simulations or high-cost active cooling strategies prone to failure in harsh environments, this study provides a unique, highly controlled outdoor empirical validation of a mechanically simple, passive FHSs under the challenging, semi-arid climatic conditions of Kerman, Iran. Results indicate that the FHS-integrated system significantly suppressed cell operating temperatures by approximately ۸ – ۱۲ °C during peak solar intensity. This thermal regulation led to a peak electrical power output of ۱۲.۲ W, representing an ۱۱.۹% improvement over the uncooled reference system. While the integration of fins slightly attenuated daily thermal efficiency from ۱۳.۲۷% to ۱۲.۱% due to enhanced convective dissipation to the ambient air, the overall energy efficiency increased from ۳۸.۳% to ۳۹.۱۱%. These findings demonstrate that the electrical productivity gains, representing high-grade energy, outweigh marginal thermal losses. Ultimately, this work contributes a robust, economically feasible framework for enhancing CPVT performance and longevity under intense thermal loads.

کلیدواژه ها:

Concentrated photovoltaic thermal ، Passive cooling techniques ، Finned heat sinks ، Thermal and electrical efficiency ، heat sinks