Novel dual-function racking structure for passive cooling of solar PV panels –thermal performance analysis

One of the major challenges in the photovoltaic (PV) industry is to have effective and viable means of cooling the PV panel to maintain its temperature within the desired level during its operation. The commercially available racking structures are primarily designed to fulfil only the mechanical support requirement; however, modifying the racking structure to additionally serve as a heat sink is a novel idea. The present study introduces a dual-function PV panel racking structure that simultaneously serves as racking structure and heat sink. The proposed structure facilitates effective thermal contact between the metallic purlins and the panel's backside while acting as mechanical support. Numerical analysis of its heat transfer performance has been performed using fluid flow and heat transfer modules of Ansys Fluent, a state-of-the-art CFD tool, and the results have been validated by data obtained in real field experiments conducted in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The results showed that the modified structure could reduce the panel temperature by up to 6.3 °C, which eventually increased the panel efficiency by 3%. Also, the new system could reduce the levelized cost of electricity by 5%.