Evaluating the impacts of fin structures and fin counts on photovoltaic panels integrated with phase change material

Abstract

Metal fins synergized with phase change materials (PCMs) provide good thermal management for photovoltaic (PV) panels, and the performances largely depend on the shapes and counts of the fins, and the layouts of the cavity. This work first compares the thermal behaviors of one fractal fin or one straight fin in the cavity with height H (mm)-width W (mm) of 80-75, 100-60, 120-50, 150-40, and 200-30, respectively. The results show that one fractal fin can accelerate the PCM melting and further lower the PV temperature by 2 °C than one straight fin. Moreover, a more desirable cavity with the dimension of 120-50 is clarified by comparing the PV panels average efficiency during 0∼180 min versus the energy input. Next, comparisons of the fin counts N = 1, 2, 3, and 4 reveal that raising the fin count N to 2 reduces the PV panel temperature by 2.3 °C, and the fin counts cause most of the difference. Ultimately, a suitable PCM thickness of 40 mm is selected by considering the PV panel temperature along with the weight and cost of the systems. This study aims to promote the development of finned PV panels integrated with PCMs.