Heat transfer enhancements on solar farms evaluated through an enstrophy balance

Reduction of solar photovoltaic (PV) module temperatures improves efficiencies of energy extraction and reduces fatigue and degradation of the panels. Knowledge of how the heat expelled and the modules themselves interact with the surrounding atmospheric boundary layer can contribute to improvements of cooling based on farm orientation and spacing, a method of non-invasive passive cooling of the modules. Investigations into the mean and fluctuating enstrophy budget are performed to provide insight into the vortical structures that are created by the blunt body of the panel as well as from the heat exchange at the surfaces. Analysis is performed on solar farm arrangements with a variety of module row spacing using large-eddy simulations from the Uintah platform.