Calculating Heat Transfer of Photovoltaic Panels

[xharville]

I was wondering how one would calculate the heat transfer of an object such as a photovoltaic panel that is made up of different materials, all with different thermal conductivity values. Also how would one calculate the heat transfer if a photovoltaic panel is on top of a flowing water source.

 

[FredGarvin]

Since the panel is solid (doesn't have an air gap with air flowing in it), you can use conductive heat transfer and the idea of the composite plane wall.

http://www.nd.edu/~msen/Teaching/IntHT/Slides/03A%20-Chapter%203%20-%20Sec%203.1%20thru%203.4.ppt

Pay particular attention to slide 6

 

[xharville]

But how would one find the overall heat transfer coefficient of the solar panel. Would I just use the thermal conductivity value of the solar cells and use this value for the entire photovoltaic panel. Also what value would I use if I added a steel backing to the photovoltaic panel.