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Analysis and Optimization of Trapezoidal Grooved Microchannel Heat Sink Using Nanofluids in a Micro Solar Cell
Ruijin Wang1, Wen Wang1, Jiawei Wang1
1School of Mechanical Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 3, 2020
Summary
Controlling solar cell temperature with nanofluids in microchannel heat sinks (MCHS) enhances efficiency. A heterogeneous two-phase model revealed optimal designs for improved photovoltaic thermal management.
Area of Science:
- Nanofluids
- Photovoltaics
- Heat Transfer
Background:
- Solar cell efficiency is temperature-dependent, necessitating effective thermal management in concentrated photovoltaic systems.
- Microchannel heat sinks (MCHS) are crucial for dissipating heat, but their performance with nanofluids requires detailed modeling.
- Understanding the complex interactions between fluid flow, nanoparticle motion, and temperature is key to optimizing MCHS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermal performance of a microchannel heat sink (MCHS) using Al2O3-water nanofluid in a photovoltaic system.
- To develop and validate a heterogeneous two-phase model for simulating nanofluid behavior in MCHS.
- To optimize MCHS geometry and nanofluid parameters for enhanced heat transfer and photovoltaic efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Established a heterogeneous two-phase model accounting for temperature, viscosity, nanofluid flow, and nanoparticle motion.
- Conducted numerical simulations to analyze the thermal performance of MCHS with trapezoidal grooves.
- Interpreted heat transfer enhancement using the non-dimensional parameter N_BT, representing the ratio of Brownian to thermophoretic diffusion.
Main Results:
- The heterogeneous two-phase model demonstrated superior thermal performance prediction for MCHS compared to single-phase models.
- Nanofluid-based MCHS showed significantly better thermal management capabilities.
- The study identified key factors including flow field, nanoparticle volume fraction, and size influencing heat transfer enhancement.
Conclusions:
- Utilizing a heterogeneous two-phase model is essential for accurate prediction of MCHS thermal performance with nanofluids.
- Nanofluid properties and MCHS design parameters can be optimized for improved photovoltaic thermal management.
- The findings provide a foundation for designing efficient MCHS for concentrated photovoltaic systems.
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