The Effect of Copper-Aluminium Perforated Heat Sink to Improve Solar Cell Performance

Abstract

Fossil-based energy is diminishing due to the increasing global energy demand. The sun as a renewable energy source can be converted into electrical energy using solar cells. The performance of solar cells is influenced by the operational temperature produced. This article discusses the use of copper heat sink with aluminum fins as passive cooling to reduce operating temperatures to improve the performance of solar cells. The performance of solar cells using a heat sink with a copper base variation of 5 and 10 aluminium fins compared to solar cells without cooling. The results show that at the same intensity of 1100 W / m2, the solar cell without cooling gets an operating temperature of 64.6 °C, an efficiency of 9.50% and an output power of 36.63 W. Solar cells with a 5-fin heat sink, can reduce the operating temperature is 57.7 °C, an efficiency of 11.42% and an output power of 44.02 W. Whereas the cooling panel with 10 fins obtains a temperature of 55.6 °C, maximum efficiency and power are 12.03% and 46.37 W respectively. The addition of 10-fin heat sinks to solar cells produces the best performance which can reduce operating temperatures by 9 °C, increasing efficiency and output power are 2.53% and 9.74 W respectively compared to solar cells without cooling.