An innovative technique of passive cooling PV module using lapping fins and planner reflector

This study aims to combine planar reflector and backplate extended surface to the PV module to optimize its efficiency. A parametric study based on lapping fin height, number fins, fin spacing, windspeed and solar irradiance on the PV module performance were investigated using CFD, ANSYS, FLUENT. 3-D, Navier–Stokes energy equations were solved using ANSYS, FLUENT to perform numerical computations. Meanwhile, the bare PV module temperature has been calculated using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. The results revealed that as the fin pitch increases from 20 to 60 mm this leads to decrease number of fins from 20 to 10 fins which at the same time increased the PV module temperature from 44.13-54.01 °C. The PV module temperature without cooling was reached 64.3 °C; meanwhile with 18 lapping fins and 27.7 mm fin pitch the PV module temperature reduced to 39.73 °C which improved the electrical efficiency to 11.2% when compared to bare PV 9.81% with a temperature difference 24.57 °C at 1000 W/m2. Finally, we conclude that the lapping fins have a superior performance in reducing PV module temperature. Furthermore, it was found that the aluminum thickness of the designed fins above 2 mm showed a negligible effect on the PV power and efficiency.