https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202226401045
Conception of minichannel cooling for a PVT heat exchanger
Kielce University of Technology, Faculty of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Al. 1000-lecia Panstwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland
* Corresponding author: dstrak@tu.kielce.pl
Published online: 11 July 2022
In the paper, a new construction of a compact plate heat exchanger dedicated to PVT cooling was numerically tested. The efficiency of photovoltaic panels decreases as their temperature increases, but cooling improves efficiency. A model counter-current heat exchanger with rectangular minichannels was presented. A heated wall of the heat exchanger was a photovoltaic cell. There were laminar flows of Fluorinert FC-72 and distilled water in the minichannels. FC-72 was heated by the photovoltaic panel. The CAD model of a minichannel heat exchanger was proposed. CFD calculations were performed using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ software. The fluid temperature and velocity profile in the minichannels were determined to finally obtain the values of the heat transfer coefficient. The main parameters taken into consideration in the computations concerned: meshes, physics, and geometry. Finally, local heat transfer coefficients were determined.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2022
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