Investigation of functionally graded metal foam thermal management system for solar cell
Weng Cheong Tan
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, UTAR, Kajang, 43000 Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Lip Huat Saw
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, UTAR, Kajang, 43000 Malaysia
Correspondence
Lip Huat Saw, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, UTAR, Kajang, Malaysia, 43000.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorFarazila Yusof
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorHui San Thiam
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, UTAR, Kajang, 43000 Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorJin Xuan
Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
Search for more papers by this authorWeng Cheong Tan
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, UTAR, Kajang, 43000 Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Lip Huat Saw
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, UTAR, Kajang, 43000 Malaysia
Correspondence
Lip Huat Saw, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, UTAR, Kajang, Malaysia, 43000.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorFarazila Yusof
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorHui San Thiam
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, UTAR, Kajang, 43000 Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorJin Xuan
Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information: Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, Grant/Award Number: FRGS/1/2018/TK07/UTAR/02/4; Universiti Malaya, Grant/Award Number: ST006-2018; University of Malaya RU Grant, Grant/Award Number: ST006-2018; Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Grant/Award Number: FRGS/1/2018/TK07/UTAR/02/4
Summary
Concentrated photovoltaic cell (CPV) is a solar energy harvesting device that converts solar energy into electrical energy. However, the performance and efficiency of the CPV are heavily dependent on the temperature. Besides, nonuniformity of temperature distribution on the CPV will lead to thermal aging and affects the cycle life. Hence, an effective cooling system is required to remove excess heat generated to ensure that the CPV operates at optimum operating temperature with minimum variation of temperature. Metal foam is a new class of material that possesses huge potential for thermal management. In this study, a functionally graded metal foam is proposed for the CPV thermal management system. Computational thermal fluid dynamic analysis is conducted to investigate the effect of porosity and pore density on the flow field and thermal performance of the aluminum foam heat sink. The investigation results revealed that 10 PPI functionally graded aluminum foam heat sink with two stages of porosity gradient 0.794 and 0.682 produced the lowest pressure drop and highest thermal performance. Temperature difference of 3.9°C was achieved for a solar cell with total heat generation of 900 W under water mass flow rate of 20 gs−1.
REFERENCES
- 1Sarbu I, Dorca A. A comprehensive review of solar thermoelectric cooling systems. Int J Energy Res. 2018; 42(2): 395-415.
- 2Sinton RA, Kwark Y, Swirhun S, Swanson RM. Silicon point contact concentrator solar cells. IEEE Electron Device Lett. 1985; 6(8): 405-407.
- 3Araki K, Uozumi H, Yamaguchi M. A simple passive cooling structure and its heat analysis for 500/spl times/concentrator PV module. Conference Record, 29th IEEE PVSC 2002; 1568-1571
- 4Segev G, Mittelman G, Kribus A. Equivalent circuit models for triple-junction concentrator solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells. 2012; 153: 164-178.
- 5Grubišić-Čabo F, Nižetić S, Marinić Kragić I, Čoko D. Further progress in the research of fin-based passive cooling technique for the free-standing silicon photovoltaic panels. Int J Energy Res. 2019; 43(8): 3475-3495.
- 6Al-Nimr MD, Kiwan S, Sharadga H. Simulation of a novel hybrid solar photovoltaic/wind system to maintain the cell surface temperature and to generate electricity. Int J of Energy Res. 2018; 42(3): 985-998.
- 7Ho T, Mao SS, Greif R. The impact of cooling on cell temperature and the practical solar concentration limits for photovoltaics. Int J Energy Res. 2011; 35(14): 1250-1257.
- 8Du Y, Le NC, Chen D, Chen H, Zhu Y. Thermal management of solar cells using a nano-coated heat pipe plate: an indoor experimental study. Int J Energy Res. 2017; 41(6): 867-876.
- 9Du B, Hu E, Kolhe M. Performance analysis of water cooled concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2012; 16(9): 6732-6736.
- 10Chaabane M, Mhiri H, Bournot P. Performance optimization of water-cooled concentrated photovoltaic system. Heat Transf Eng. 2016; 37(1): 76-81.
- 11Aldossary A, Mahmoud S, Al-Dadah R. Technical feasibility study of passive and active cooling for concentrator PV in harsh environment. Appl Therm Eng. 2016; 100: 490-500.
- 12Segev G, Kribus A. Performance of CPV modules based on vertical multi-junction cells under non-uniform illumination. Sol Energy. 2013; 88: 120-128.
- 13Chenlo F, Cid M. A linear concentrator photovoltaic module: analysis of non-uniform illumination and temperature effects on efficiency. Sol Cells. 1987; 20(1): 27-39.
- 14Yang K, Zuo C. A novel multi-layer manifold microchannel cooling system for concentrating photovoltaic cells. Energy Convers Manag. 2015; 89: 214-221.
- 15Siyabi I Al, Shanks K, Mallick T, Sundaram S. Thermal analysis of a multi-layer microchannel heat sink for cooling concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) cells. AIP Conf. Proc., 2017; 1881:070001.
- 16Radwan A, Ahmed M, Ookawara S. Performance enhancement of concentrated photovoltaic systems using a microchannel heat sink with nanofluids. Energy Convers Manag. 2016; 119: 289-303.
- 17Tan WC, Saw LH, Thiam HS, Xuan J, Cai Z, Yew MC. Overview of porous media/metal foam application in fuel cells and solar power systems. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2018; 96: 181-197.
- 18Lefebvre LP, Banhart J, Dunand DC. Porous metals and metallic foams: current status and recent developments. Adv Eng Mater. 2008; 10(9): 775-787.
- 19Bastawros AF, Evans AG, Stone HA. Evaluation of Cellular Metal Heat Transfer Media. In: MECH. Vol. 325 Cambridge, MA: Harvard University; 1998.
- 20Bastawros AF. Effectiveness of open-cell metallic foams for high power electronic cooling. Proc. ASME Heat Transf. Div 1998.
- 21Mahdi H, Lopez J, Fuentes A, Jones R. Thermal performance of aluminum-foam CPU heat exchangers. Int J Energy Res. 2006; 30(11): 851-860.
- 22Chen T, Shu G, Tian H, Ma X, Wang Y, Yang H. Compact potential of exhaust heat exchangers for engine waste heat recovery using metal foams. Int J Energy Res. 2019; 43(4): 1428-1443.
- 23Ashby MF, Evans A, Fleck NA, et al. Metal foams: a design guide. Appl Mech Rev. 2001; 54(6): B105-B106.
10.1115/1.1421119 Google Scholar
- 24Al-Zareer M, Dincer I, Rosen MA. A review of novel thermal management systems for batteries. Int J Energy Res. 2018; 42(10): 3182-3205.
- 25Sarbu I, Dorca A. Review on heat transfer analysis in thermal energy storage using latent heat storage systems and phase change materials. Int J Energy Res. 2019; 43(1): 29-64.
- 26Dukhan N, Picón-Feliciano R, Álvarez-HernÁndez AR. Air flow through compressed and uncompressed aluminum foam: measurements and correlations. J Fluids Eng. 2006; 128(5): 1004-1012.
- 27Boomsma K, Poulikakos D, Zwick F. Metal foams as compact high performance heat exchangers. Mech Mater. 2003; 35(12): 1161-1176.
- 28Han XH, Wang Q, Park YG, T'Joen C, Sommers A, Jacobi A. A review of metal foam and metal matrix composites for heat exchangers and heat sinks. Heat Transf Eng. 2012; 33(12): 991-1009.
- 29Mancin S, Zilio C, Cavallini A, Rossetto L. Pressure drop during air flow in aluminum foams. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2010; 53(15-16): 3121-3130.
- 30Mancin S, Zilio C, Cavallini A, Rossetto L. Heat transfer during air flow in aluminum foams. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2010; 53(21-22): 4976-4984.
- 31Bhattacharya A, Calmidi VV, Mahajan RL. Thermophysical properties of high porosity metal foams. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2002; 45(5): 1017-1031.
- 32Du Plessis P, Montillet A, Comiti J, Legrand J. Pressure drop prediction for flow through high porosity metallic foams. Chem Eng Sci. 1994; 49(21): 3545-3553.
- 33Ghosh I. Heat transfer correlation for high-porosity open-cell foam. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2009; 52(5-6): 1488-1494.
- 34Mancin S, Zilio C, Diani A, Rossetto L. Air forced convection through metal foams: experimental results and modeling. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2013; 62: 112-123.
- 35Kim SY, Paek JW, Kang BH. Thermal performance of aluminum-foam heat sinks by forced air cooling. IEEE Trans Components Packag Technol. 2003; 26: 262-267.
- 36Odabaee M, Hooman K. Application of metal foams in air-cooled condensers for geothermal power plants: an optimization study. Int Commun Heat Mass Transf. 2011; 38(7): 838-843.
- 37Bayomy AM, Saghir MZ, Yousefi T. Electronic cooling using water flow in aluminum metal foam heat sink: experimental and numerical approach. Int J Therm Sci. 2016; 109: 182-200.
- 38Hetsroni G, Gurevich M, Rozenblit R. Metal foam heat sink for transmission window. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2005; 48(18): 3793-3803.
- 39Noh JS, Lee KB, Lee CG. Pressure loss and forced convective heat transfer in an annulus filled with aluminum foam. Int Commun Heat Mass Transf. 2006; 33(4): 434-444.
- 40Zaragoza G, Goodall R. Metal foams with graded pore size for heat transfer applications. Adv Eng Mater. 2013; 15(3): 123-128.
- 41Bai X, Kuwahara F, Mobedi M, Nakayama A. Forced convective heat transfer in a channel filled with a functionally graded metal foam matrix. J Heat Transfer. 2018; 140(11):111702.
- 42Yang X, Wang W, Yang C, Jin L, Lu TJ. Solidification of fluid saturated in open-cell metallic foams with graded morphologies. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2016; 98: 60-69.
- 43Hernández ARA. Combined flow and heat transfer characterization of open cell aluminum foams. University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez campus 2005.
- 44Saw LH, Ye Y, Yew MC, Chong WT, Yew MK, Ng TC. Computational fluid dynamics simulation on open cell aluminum foams for Li-ion battery cooling system. Appl Energy. 2017; 204: 1489-1499.
- 45Calmidi VV, Mahajan RL. The effective thermal conductivity of high porosity fibrous metal foams. J of Heat Transf. 1999; 121(2): 466-471.
- 46Ansys ANSYS. CFX-Solver modeling guide. Canonsburg: ANSYS INC, Canonsburg; 2010.
- 47Kaviany M. Principles of Heat Transfer in Porous Media. 2nd ed. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1995.
10.1007/978-1-4612-4254-3 Google Scholar
- 48Sparrow EM, Abraham JP, Minkowycz WJ. Flow separation in a diverging conical duct: effect of Reynolds number and divergence angle. Int J Heat Mass Transf. 2009; 52(13-14): 3079-3083.
- 49Menter FR. Two-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence models for engineering applications. AIAA J. 1994; 32(8): 1598-1605.
- 50Lee GG, Allan WDE, Goni Boulama K. Flow and performance characteristics of an Allison 250 gas turbine S-shaped diffuser: effects of geometry variations. Int J Heat Fluid Flow. 2013; 42: 151-163.
- 51Bardina J, Huang P, Coakley T. Turbulence modeling validation. 1997.
- 52Saw LH, Ye Y, Tay AAO, Chong WT, Kuan SH, Yew MC. Computational fluid dynamic and thermal analysis of lithium-ion battery pack with air cooling. Appl Energy. 2016; 177: 783-792.
- 53Odabaee M, Hooman K. Metal foam heat exchangers for heat transfer augmentation from a tube bank. Appl Therm Eng. 2012; 36: 456-463.
