Optimization and parametric analysis of a multi-junction high-concentrator PV cell combined with a straight fins heat sink

Highlights: • Passive cooling of a triple-junction solar cell using a straight fins heat sink. • A comprehensive 3D heat transfer and electrical model is developed. • Effects of air temperature, concentration ratio, and fins length have been studied. • The cooling system enabled to realize a higher CR of 1250 suns producing 43.4 W/cm². • Taguchi analysis showed the CR has the greatest effect on the cell performance. An efficient cooling system is crucial for solar cells operating under high concentration ratios to maintain the cell temperature below the maximum allowable temperature limit and to ensure higher efficiency. The current study focuses on the passive cooling of a triple-junction solar cell using a straight fins heat sink. A comprehensive 3D heat transfer and electrical model integrating the CPV cell full layers and the straight fins heat sink is developed and numerically simulated. The effects of ambient temperature, wind speed, and concentration ratio have been studied over various lengths of the straight fins heat sink. In harsh weather conditions of 45 °C ambient temperature, 1 m/s wind speed, and 500 suns, the straight fins reduced cell temperature by approximately 421.2 °C to 432.1 °C with reference to the uncooled cell depending on fins length. Accordingly, the cooling system enabled to realize a higher concentration of 1250 suns producing 43.4 W/cm² while the uncooled cell is limited at 72.5 suns with an electrical output of 2.5 W/cm². Environmental analysis showed that cooling of CPV system using straight fins could reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 903 and 1705 tons/m² at a solar concentration of 500 and 1000 suns respectively. Additionally, Taguchi analysis is performed to find the most affecting parameter on the cell performance and the optimum fin length. The analysis showed that concentration ratio has the most significant effect on the performance of the system, followed by ambient temperature and then fin length. Conversely, the impact of wind speed can be neglected.