Thermal Model for an Early Prototype of CPV for Active Solar Panel Initiative System

In this paper, three dimensional thermal model is presented for an early prototype of novel concentrating PV design for active solar panel initiative system using ANSYS, CFX package. The system consists of series of Fresnel lens for 36x6 series-parallel configuration solar cells, bottom encapsulation layer, and back plate. Fresnel lens is placed at the top of the system. Each Fresnel lens has a thick- ness of 3 mm and dimension of 10 x 60 mm dimensions. In order to protect the lens from the ambient conditions, protective glass plate is used just above the lens. Each solar cell is 0.25 mm thickness and dimension of 2 x 60 mm, located at the base of the system. The system concentration ratio is 5x. The solar cells are placed along the focal line of the Fresnel lens. Thermally conductive adhesive thickness of 1 mm is placed at the bottom and side of the solar cells. In the present model, only three Fresnel lens and solar cells arrangement have considered. To reduce the solar cell temperature, the five numbers of fins are used at the base of the 5 mm back plate. Solar radiation of 1000 W/m2 is considered and absorption coefficient of 15% of the lens, glass plate, and optical frame is also considered in the present model. Based on the present model, the temperatures of the different components are predicted for focal lengths of 41 mm, 33 mm, 25 mm, and 5 mm. It is observed that the variations of the focal length abruptly change the fluid motion between the lens and the solar cells, as a result, the operating solar cell temperature first increases and then decreases.