Abstract :
In a Photovoltaic (PV) system, heat is generated by an operating diode. Because DC combiner boxes are waterproof, dustproof, air
tight and made of heat-insulating material, thermal energy is easily accumulated, affecting the performance and safety of power cables
and other electronic components near the diodes in the DC combiner box. This study utilizes a heat pipe as a channel for heat dissipation
to conduct the heat out of a DC combiner box without destroying the air-tightness of the box. An existing DC combiner box was
improved upon using this method of heat dissipation. The measured heat flow and temperature demonstrate that the proposed method
is feasible. The influence of the condensation section temperature on the maximum heat transfer of the heat pipe was also investigated by
experiment. The maximum heat transfer rate of the heat pipe was found to increase with the condensation section temperature of the heat
pipe. When the condensation temperature was 20 C, 30 C and 40 C, the maximum heat transfer rate of the heat pipe was 21.6 W,
29.6 W and 39.7 W, respectively.
2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
