Thermal model for an early prototype of concentrating photovoltaic for active solar panel initiative system

In this paper, three dimensional thermal model is presented for an early prototype of novel concentrating PV design for active solar panel initiative system using ANSYS, CFX package. The system consists of series of Fresnel lens for 36 × 6 series-parallel configuration solar cells, bottom encapsulation layer, and back plate. Fresnel lens is placed at the top of the system. Each Fresnel lens has a thickness of 3 mm and dimension of 10 × 60 mm dimensions. In order to protect the lens from the ambient conditions, protective glass plate is used just above the lens. Each solar cell is 0.25 mm thickness and dimension of 2 × 60 mm, located at the base of the system. The system concentration ratio is 5×. The solar cells are placed along the focal line of the Fresnel lens. Thermally conductive adhesive thickness of 1 mm is placed at the bottom and side of the solar cells. In the present model, only three Fresnel lens and solar cells arrangement have considered. To reduce the solar cell temperature, the five number...