Alleviating operating temperature of concentration solar cell by air active cooling and surface radiation

In the present paper, a heat transfer model for a multi-junction concentrating solar cell system has been developed. The model presented in this work includes the GaInP/GaAs/Ge triple-junction solar cell with a ventilation system in which air is forced to flow within a duct behind the solar cell assembly and its holders and accessories (anti-reflective glass cover, adhesive material, and aluminum back plate). A mathematical model for the entire system is presented and the finite difference technique has been used to solve the governing equations. Results showed that the interaction of surface radiation and air convection could adequately cool the solar cell at medium concentration ratios. For high concentration ratios, the channel width would need to be narrowed to micro-meter values to maintain the required efficiency of cooling. The conjugation effect has been shown to be significant and has a noticeable effect on the maximum solar cell temperature. Furthermore, the air inlet velocity and channel width were also found to have major effects on the cell temperature. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.