Calculating Heat Transfer of Photovoltaic Panels

  • Thread starter Thread starter xharville
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Calculation
AI Thread Summary
To calculate the heat transfer of a photovoltaic panel composed of different materials, one can utilize the concept of a composite plane wall, focusing on the thermal conductivity values of each material. The overall heat transfer coefficient can be determined by considering the thermal resistances of each layer, rather than using a single thermal conductivity value for the entire panel. When the panel is placed over a flowing water source, convective heat transfer must also be accounted for, in addition to conductive heat transfer. If a steel backing is added, its thermal properties must be integrated into the overall calculation to accurately assess heat transfer. Understanding these principles is crucial for optimizing the thermal performance of photovoltaic systems.
xharville
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
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.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
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
 
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.
 
Thread ''splain this hydrostatic paradox in tiny words'
This is (ostensibly) not a trick shot or video*. The scale was balanced before any blue water was added. 550mL of blue water was added to the left side. only 60mL of water needed to be added to the right side to re-balance the scale. Apparently, the scale will balance when the height of the two columns is equal. The left side of the scale only feels the weight of the column above the lower "tail" of the funnel (i.e. 60mL). So where does the weight of the remaining (550-60=) 490mL go...
Consider an extremely long and perfectly calibrated scale. A car with a mass of 1000 kg is placed on it, and the scale registers this weight accurately. Now, suppose the car begins to move, reaching very high speeds. Neglecting air resistance and rolling friction, if the car attains, for example, a velocity of 500 km/h, will the scale still indicate a weight corresponding to 1000 kg, or will the measured value decrease as a result of the motion? In a second scenario, imagine a person with a...
Scalar and vector potentials in Coulomb gauge Assume Coulomb gauge so that $$\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A}=0.\tag{1}$$ The scalar potential ##\phi## is described by Poisson's equation $$\nabla^2 \phi = -\frac{\rho}{\varepsilon_0}\tag{2}$$ which has the instantaneous general solution given by $$\phi(\mathbf{r},t)=\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\int \frac{\rho(\mathbf{r}',t)}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}d^3r'.\tag{3}$$ In Coulomb gauge the vector potential ##\mathbf{A}## is given by...
Back
Top