Passive Cooling Measurements for a Concentrating Photovoltaic Array

Solar cells in a concentrating photovoltaic array absorb heat that must be removed. One method is to use a finned aluminum heat exchanger whose modeling requires estimating the coefficient of heat transfer from fins to surroundings; transfer depends on such parameters as windspeed and direction, and exchanger design. A transient analytical model has been constructed and applied to experimental data. Coefficients of heat transfer were calculated and correlated with windspeed and direction, which appear to have a definite effect on the overall coefficient. The transient model and apparent relationships between windspeed and convective coefficients are described.