Thermal optimization of a solar cell carrier for concentrator systems

Aaron Muron; Simon Chow; Jeffrey Wheeldon; Karin Hinzer; Henry Schriemer

doi:10.1117/12.905692

8 September 2011 Thermal optimization of a solar cell carrier for concentrator systems

Aaron Muron, Simon Chow, Jeffrey Wheeldon, Karin Hinzer, Henry Schriemer

Proceedings Volume 8007, Photonics North 2011; 800722 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.905692
Event: Photonics North 2011, 2011, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract

Solar cell efficiency decreases as its temperature increases. Therefore, it is necessary to design a thermally optimal solar cell carrier that will maintain a minimal solar cell temperature. To achieve this optimal solar cell carrier design, a finite-element analysis model of the solar cell on carrier was developed. This numerical model was experimentally calibrated against a known design, in which the average solar cell temperature was determined by examining the shift in the open circuit voltage. This allowed us to explore the relationship between the carrier geometry and the average solar cell temperature. That is, the solar cell carrier is characterized by two independent thermal resistances: the uniform flow thermal resistance, and the thermal spreading resistance. As the copper thickness was increased, the uniform flow resistance acted to raise the cell temperature while the spreading thermal resistance decreased the cell temperature. Therefore, when the carrier geometry minimized the thermal resistances, it was found that the minimum solar cell temperature was achieved at a copper thickness between 1.5 and 3 mm depending on the surface area of the carrier. This optimized carrier design reduced the average solar cell temperature by 16 °C, which corresponds to an increase of 0.8% in cell efficiency at 1666 suns as compared to the original design used to experimentally calibrate the numerical model.

Citation Download Citation

Aaron Muron, Simon Chow, Jeffrey Wheeldon, Karin Hinzer, and Henry Schriemer "Thermal optimization of a solar cell carrier for concentrator systems", Proc. SPIE 8007, Photonics North 2011, 800722 (8 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.905692

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