Performance analysis of photovoltaic panels with dual-axis tracking and passive cooling using fins and radiative paint

Abstract

High operating temperatures significantly reduce photovoltaic (PV) system efficiency, particularly in tropical climates. While passive cooling and solar tracking systems have independently shown promise, their combined application has been rarely explored in real-world conditions. This study introduces a novel hybrid PV system integrating dual-axis solar tracking with two passive cooling enhancements: radiative paint and porous copper metal foam fins. Five configurations (T1 to T5) were experimentally evaluated outdoors under irradiance levels ranging from 110.0 to 739.4 W/m². Results showed that each enhancement yielded measurable gains. At peak irradiance, T1 (reference) achieved an efficiency of 12.13 %, T2 (tracking only) improved to 12.74 %, T3 (with aluminum fins) reached 13.34 %, and T4 (with aluminum fins and radiative paint) attained 13.49 %. The T5 configuration outperformed all others with an efficiency of 14.50 %, representing a 19.58 % relative gain over T1 and the lowest surface temperature of 50.0 °C. Although analytical modeling predicted lower heat dissipation for T5 compared to T3, experimental results demonstrated superior thermal regulation by T5 due to enhanced convective turbulence and radiative surface area. This hybrid system delivered improved efficiency without external energy input, offering a scalable and low-maintenance solution for PV applications in hot climates. The findings provide new insights into the design of thermally stable PV systems and underscore the limitations of simplified thermal models in capturing porous cooling behavior.