A Review on Recent Development of Cooling Technologies for Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) Systems

Abstract

Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) technology, as an energy saving method which can directly generate electricity from the Sun, has attracted an ever-increasing attention with the deepening worldwide energy crisis. However, operating temperature is one of the main concerns that affect the CPV system. Excess cell temperature causes electrical conversion efficiency loss and cell lifespan decrease. Thus, reasonable cooling methods should decrease the operating temperature and balance the flare inhomogeneity. They also need to display high reliability, low power consumption, and convenient installation. This paper presented the architectural, commercial, and industrial usage of CPV system, reviewed the recent research developments of different cooling techniques of CPV systems during last few years, including the spectral beam splitting technology, cogeneration power technology, commonly used and promising cooling techniques, active and passive cooling methods. It also analysed the design considerations of the cooling methods in CPV systems, introduced the classification and basic working principles and provided a thorough compilation of different cooling techniques with their advantages, current research limitations, challenges, and possible further research directions. The aim of this work is to find the research gap and recommend feasible research direction of cooling technologies for CPV systems.

Lightweight, Passive Radiative Cooling to Enhance Concentrating Photovoltaics

“…To our knowledge, the maximum temperature drop even outperformed some active air cooling methods. 39,40 The temperature decrease also resulted in a 8% to 27% (28 to 75 mV) relative (absolute) increase in the open-circuit voltage of our GaSb PV cell, as well as a projected lifetime extension for various types of solar cells, which potentially can be used in CPV systems. [41][42][43][44][45] Using detailed simulations, a peak radiative power flux of 157 to 310 W/m 2 was estimated to be present, thereby increasing the cooling performance per unit weight by 25% to 81%.…”

“…For example, below-ambient cooling is widely used for thermal management of buildings, 9,[34][35][36][37] while above-ambient radiative cooling is more suitable for dissipating low grade heat from PV systems, 24,26,[31][32][33] as the elevated working temperature and high sky transmittance create ideal conditions for maximizing the cooling power. Unlike forced air or liquid cooling for PV systems, which consume 2% to 5% of the total output power, 38,39 radiative cooling is passive with no extra energy consumption. 40 It is also compact, lightweight, and reliable, without any bulky heat sinks or moving parts, as in air or liquid cooling.…”

Review on Optimising Solar PV Efficiency by Using Tracking and Cooling System

“…Manxuan Xiao et al [17] Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) technology, as an energy saving method which can directly generate electricity from the Sun, has attracted an ever-increasing attention with the deepening worldwide energy crisis. However, operating temperature is one of the main concerns that affect the CPV system.…”

Feasibility of Cooling a Photovoltaic Fresnel System by Water Spraying

“…One of the main obstacles that face the operation of the Fresnel system is overheating due to excessive solar radiation and high ambient temperatures which affect the panel's efficiency, output energy [1][2][3][4] and can even burn the PV panel [5][6]. One of the important parameters that affect the output of the Fresnel system is the concentration ratio.…”