Exploiting the sun's energy without overheating
Europe has established itself as a leader in the crusade to replace fossil fuels with Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Solúcar Energía in Spain has made remarkable progress in concentrating the sun's rays to generate electricity. However, extremely high temperatures often limit the performance of such systems. Solúcar Energía joined forces with four other research centres from the CAC project to assess the potential of a new concept - a controlled atmosphere photovoltaic concentrator (CAC). The system's most vulnerable components, such as reflectors, are housed in a protective enclosure. Solúcar Energía oversaw the development of a passive heat sink for the CAC. Several different designs were tested, culminating in the choice of a model with a dozen sheet-like protrusions that increase the overall surface area, and subsequently performance, of the heat sink. The unit was constructed from an aluminium-manganese alloy. Heat dissipation was further bolstered with the use of a ceramic-filled single-component silicone, specifically KP 30 thermal grease. Its optimal thermal conductivity properties more than doubled the rate of heat transfer. It should be noted that KP 30 can withstand extended periods of storage without degradation, though mixing is recommended prior to use. Solúcar Energía exposed the new heat sink to a wide range of operating conditions, including high winds. The thermal resistance data collected indicate a significant level of protection for the CAC components. Based on these results, the Spanish firm is looking to incorporate the new heat sink into its future products.
