Performance improvement of a concentrator photovoltaic solar system using a novel design of a radial micro-channel heat sink

In the present study, a novel design of a radial micro-channel heat sink for thermal regulation of concentrator photovoltaic cells was introduced and investigated at different operating scenarios such as variable concentration ratios of the solar radiation and coolant flow rates. The performance of the concentrator photovoltaic system in terms of average temperature and uniformity of temperature distribution over the cell surface, net power output, and electrical efficiency were shown to emphasize the enhancement in energy management of the proposed design. A comprehensive three-dimensional thermo-fluid model of the photovoltaic system integrated with the radial micro-channel heat sink was developed and verified via mesh independence test and validated using results in the literature. The findings of this study showed that the new proposed design remarkably reduced cell operating temperature while also enhancing cell temperature uniformity, reducing the risk of hot spot development. The reduction of average temperature and efficient thermal energy management led to more electrical energy generation which was reflected by higher electrical efficiency. The presented findings considerably contribute to the literature by identifying unique and reliable micro-channel heat sink designs for concentrator solar cell thermal control.