Experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency

One of the main challenges in photovoltaic panel operation is the significant increase in operating temperature, which leads to a notable decrease in conversion efficiency. Addressing this issue, the present study focuses on the investigation of air-cooling solutions for photovoltaic (PV) panels int...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sebastian-Valeriu Hudișteanu, Nelu-Cristian Cherecheș, Florin-Emilian Țurcanu, Iuliana Hudișteanu, Marina Verdeș, Ana-Diana Ancaș
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Energy Conversion and Management: X
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524003209
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850121447152812032
author Sebastian-Valeriu Hudișteanu
Nelu-Cristian Cherecheș
Florin-Emilian Țurcanu
Iuliana Hudișteanu
Marina Verdeș
Ana-Diana Ancaș
author_facet Sebastian-Valeriu Hudișteanu
Nelu-Cristian Cherecheș
Florin-Emilian Țurcanu
Iuliana Hudișteanu
Marina Verdeș
Ana-Diana Ancaș
author_sort Sebastian-Valeriu Hudișteanu
collection DOAJ
description One of the main challenges in photovoltaic panel operation is the significant increase in operating temperature, which leads to a notable decrease in conversion efficiency. Addressing this issue, the present study focuses on the investigation of air-cooling solutions for photovoltaic (PV) panels integrated into an operational system. The proposed cooling solutions for the photovoltaic panels include four different types of heat sinks with fins. The experimental setup was placed on a roof terrace, exposing the panels to real-world weather and functional conditions. Each cooling solution, designed with variable characteristics, aimed to efficiently dissipate heat generated by the PV panels, particularly during warmer seasons. Each cooling solution tested in this research improves the efficiency of photovoltaic panels and ensures uniform temperature distribution across the panel surface. The advantage of the air-cooling solutions (heat sinks with fins) is their ability to provide passive cooling of the photovoltaic panels without additional energy or mass consumption. These passive cooling solutions are advantageous as they lower PV temperatures without requiring additional energy input, thus aligning with sustainable design principles by enhancing energy output while minimizing the system’s carbon footprint. The originality of the work consists in outdoor testing of the patented idea of perforating the heat sink to improve air circulation. The results demonstrated notable efficiency improvements across all models, ranging from 5.28% to 5.92%, with slight advantages induced by perforated fin heat sinks (5.82% to 5.92%) compared to non-perforated ones (5.28% to 5.69%). Additionally, perforated designs achieved approximately 5% material savings, offering superior efficiency gains at a reduced cost. The research involved both theoretical analysis and experimental approach.
format Article
id doaj-art-e2b4609d7aec426e9e2bf60cea32bf1d
institution OA Journals
issn 2590-1745
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Energy Conversion and Management: X
spelling doaj-art-e2b4609d7aec426e9e2bf60cea32bf1d2025-08-20T02:35:05ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452025-01-012510084210.1016/j.ecmx.2024.100842Experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiencySebastian-Valeriu Hudișteanu0Nelu-Cristian Cherecheș1Florin-Emilian Țurcanu2Iuliana Hudișteanu3Marina Verdeș4Ana-Diana Ancaș5Corresponding author.; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Iași 700050, RomaniaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Iași 700050, RomaniaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Iași 700050, RomaniaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Iași 700050, RomaniaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Iași 700050, RomaniaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Iași 700050, RomaniaOne of the main challenges in photovoltaic panel operation is the significant increase in operating temperature, which leads to a notable decrease in conversion efficiency. Addressing this issue, the present study focuses on the investigation of air-cooling solutions for photovoltaic (PV) panels integrated into an operational system. The proposed cooling solutions for the photovoltaic panels include four different types of heat sinks with fins. The experimental setup was placed on a roof terrace, exposing the panels to real-world weather and functional conditions. Each cooling solution, designed with variable characteristics, aimed to efficiently dissipate heat generated by the PV panels, particularly during warmer seasons. Each cooling solution tested in this research improves the efficiency of photovoltaic panels and ensures uniform temperature distribution across the panel surface. The advantage of the air-cooling solutions (heat sinks with fins) is their ability to provide passive cooling of the photovoltaic panels without additional energy or mass consumption. These passive cooling solutions are advantageous as they lower PV temperatures without requiring additional energy input, thus aligning with sustainable design principles by enhancing energy output while minimizing the system’s carbon footprint. The originality of the work consists in outdoor testing of the patented idea of perforating the heat sink to improve air circulation. The results demonstrated notable efficiency improvements across all models, ranging from 5.28% to 5.92%, with slight advantages induced by perforated fin heat sinks (5.82% to 5.92%) compared to non-perforated ones (5.28% to 5.69%). Additionally, perforated designs achieved approximately 5% material savings, offering superior efficiency gains at a reduced cost. The research involved both theoretical analysis and experimental approach.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524003209Heat sinksPhotovoltaicsSolar energyPassive coolingWind effectPV temperature
spellingShingle Sebastian-Valeriu Hudișteanu
Nelu-Cristian Cherecheș
Florin-Emilian Țurcanu
Iuliana Hudișteanu
Marina Verdeș
Ana-Diana Ancaș
Experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency
Energy Conversion and Management: X
Heat sinks
Photovoltaics
Solar energy
Passive cooling
Wind effect
PV temperature
title Experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency
title_full Experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency
title_fullStr Experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency
title_full_unstemmed Experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency
title_short Experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency
title_sort experimental analysis of innovative perforated heat sinks for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency
topic Heat sinks
Photovoltaics
Solar energy
Passive cooling
Wind effect
PV temperature
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524003209
work_keys_str_mv AT sebastianvaleriuhudisteanu experimentalanalysisofinnovativeperforatedheatsinksforenhancedphotovoltaicefficiency
AT nelucristianchereches experimentalanalysisofinnovativeperforatedheatsinksforenhancedphotovoltaicefficiency
AT florinemilianturcanu experimentalanalysisofinnovativeperforatedheatsinksforenhancedphotovoltaicefficiency
AT iulianahudisteanu experimentalanalysisofinnovativeperforatedheatsinksforenhancedphotovoltaicefficiency
AT marinaverdes experimentalanalysisofinnovativeperforatedheatsinksforenhancedphotovoltaicefficiency
AT anadianaancas experimentalanalysisofinnovativeperforatedheatsinksforenhancedphotovoltaicefficiency