Advanced cooling strategies for highly concentrated PV-T systems: Confined jet impingement, thermoelectric generator integration with channel configurations

Abstract

The present study focuses on the cooling of a highly concentrated photovoltaic thermal (HCPV-T) system with a hybrid cooling consisting of confined jet impingement cooling and a thermoelectric generator in the presence of a spectral splitter to keep the cell temperature within the permissible limit of 110 °C. The thermoelectric generator module is used to generate extra electrical energy using the waste heat of the HCPV-T system. Channel design involves a central inlet and four outlets at the heat sink corners. The effect of ten distinct channel configurations by varying the fin angle, fin width, and pitch is studied in the present study. The maximum cell temperature is within the permissible limit with channel configurations C4, C5, C7, C8, and C10. The overall performance of the HCPV-T system is optimum with the channel configuration C4 with a 45° fin angle, 9 mm pitch, and 2.5 mm fin width. The generated cell electrical power is 1037.3 W with configuration C4, with a minimal pressure drop of 1423 Pa. The temperature distribution across the cell surface is more uniform with configuration C5. The combined electric power generated by the HCPV-T system and TEG module is highest with configurations C5 and C7. However, the performance evaluation criterion and overall exergy efficiency are maximum with configuration C4. The power generation from waste heat will help increase the system's overall efficiency.