Numerical analysis of counter-flow converging channels for uniform temperature distribution in PV panels to enhance energy conversion efficiency

• Counterflow converging channels enhance PV cooling efficiency. • Most converging channel cut temperature by 23.73 K at 1050 W/m². • Standard deviation fell from 1.7944 K to 1.1131 K in optimized design. • Higher convergence improves uniformity, reducing temperature variation. Effective thermal management is crucial for enhancing photovoltaic efficiency, especially under high solar irradiation. Traditional water-cooling methods, including serpentine tubes and parallel channels, face challenges like temperature inhomogeneity. Recent innovations, such as porous cooling channels, fin turbulators, and converging geometries, improve temperature uniformity and photoelectric conversion efficiency. While limited research exists on converging channels, no studies have explored counter-flow converging channels for PV cooling. This study employs Ansys Fluent 2024 R2 to assess counter-flow converging water channels as an alternative cooling method. The impact of various convergence angles on temperature reduction is analysed under irradiation levels from 600 W/m² to 1050 W/m², demonstrating significant improvements over uncooled PV panels. Findings demonstrate that channels with larger convergence angles consistently exhibit enhanced thermal performance compared to those with smaller angles. Under an irradiance of 600 W/m², the channel with a 1.28° convergence angle achieved a temperature reduction of 13.24 K, surpassing the 11.45 K decrease observed in the straight channel. This disparity became more pronounced under higher irradiance conditions, such as 1050 W/m², where the maximum convergence angle channel achieved a temperature drop of 23.73 K, compared to 20.55 K for the straight channel. Furthermore, increasing the convergence ratio improves temperature uniformity across the solar cell, as indicated by lower standard deviation values at higher angles, which helps reduce thermal stress and enhance the panel's operational stability. However, increasing the convergence ratio also raises the pressure drop, leading to higher pumping power requirements and operational costs. The optimal channel design must balance thermal and hydraulic efficiency to maximize cooling effectiveness while minimizing energy consumption.