A cooler for dense-array CPV receivers based on metal foam. (15th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Flitsanov, Yuri; Kribus, Abraham
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 160(2018)
• Page Start: 25
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2018-01-15
• Subjects: Concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) -- Porous media -- Metal foam; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2017.12.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: A plate heat exchanger with aluminum foam filler was characterized experimentally. Measurements show high rates of convective heat transfer and low pressure drops. Metal foam cooler offers better net efficiency for CPV dense array receivers vs. a commercial cooler. Compressed metal foam offers better performance but plain foam with lower cost may be competitive. Abstract: Open-cell metal foams were experimentally evaluated as heat transfer enhancers in a cold plate suitable for concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) receivers. Aluminum based foams with 20, 30 and 40 pores per inch (PPI) were tested in a compact heat exchanger with forced convection of water over a range of flow rates and heating rates. Heat transfer rate and pressure drop were characterized as a function of water flow rate through the heat exchanger. The results were compared to a commercially available cooling plate solution and to previous studies with different configurations of water-cooled metal foams. The results show a better combination of heat transfer and pressure drop performance with the metal foam solution compared to the commercial cooler. Estimate of the impact on the CPV receiver performance in an example case shows that using the metal foam cooler may increase the electricity production by about 1.5%.