A novel porous channel to optimize the cooling performance of PV modules

This paper dealt with a series of numerical investigations on a new porous cooling channel applied to PV/T systems in order to improve the insufficient heat transfer in the conventional channel. The proposed porous cooling channel based on field synergy theory had a higher overall heat transfer coefficient, which enhanced the total efficiency of the PV/T system. The numerical model was validated with experimental data. The results showed that holes distributed non-uniformly near the outlet of the cooling water led to a better cooling effect, and a hole diameter of 0.005 m led to an optimal performance. The total efficiency of the PV module with the new cooling channel was 4.17% higher than the conventional one at a solar irradiance of 1000 W/m² and an inlet mass flow rate of 0.006 kg/s. In addition, as the solar irradiance increased from 300 to 1200 W/m², the total efficiency of the new PV/T system dropped by 5.07%, which included reductions in both the electrical and thermal efficiency. The total efficiency was improved by 18.04% as the inlet mass flow rate of cooling water increased from 0.002 to 0.02 kg/s.