Effect of a hybrid jet impingement/micro-channel cooling device on the performance of densely packed PV cells under high concentration

This paper studies in deep the performance of a new hybrid jet impingement/micro-channel cooling scheme for densely packed PV cells under high concentration. The device combines a slot jet impingement with a non-uniform distribution of micro-channels. The Net PV output of the concentrator system, defined as the PV output less the pumping power, and its temperature uniformity are analyzed. The hybrid cooling scheme offers a minimum thermal resistance coefficient of 2.18 x 10(-5) K m(2)/W with a pressure drop lower than in micro-channel devices. This characteristic involves that the Net PV Output of the PV receiver is higher when cooled by the hybrid design than when cooled by the micro-channel one. The chance to modify, at the design stage, the internal geometry of the hybrid cooling scheme allows improving the temperature uniformity of the PV receiver through the adequate distribution of the local heat removal capacity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.