Heat Transfer Performance Evaluation of Common Flow-Down Rectangular Winglet Vortex Generator in Solar PV Cooling System

The increase in temperature on the surface area of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels can lead to a reduced lifespan. One potential solution for reducing their temperature is the implementation of a cooling system. This study investigates the effect of a Rectangular Winglet Vortex Generator (RWVG) arranged in a Common Flow Down (CFD) configuration on heat transfer in solar PV cooling. The RWVG is made of aluminium. The experimental study was conducted at various angles of attack (AoA) of 30°, 50°, 60°, and 70°, across a Reynolds number range of 15,000 to 45,000. The results showed that the RWVG significantly increased both the heat transfer coefficient and the Nusselt Number (Nu). Notably, at an AoA of 60°, there was a 92.45% improvement in heat transfer, which corresponded to a 25% reduction in temperature. Furthermore, the paired configuration of the RWVG proved to be more effective than the single configuration, indicating that the RWVG can enhance the cooling efficiency of solar PV systems and optimize their thermal performance. These findings were further supported by visualizations from an infrared thermal camera, which showed the areas cooled by the presence of the vortex generator.