Experimental investigation on electrical power and thermal energy storage performance of a solar hybrid PV/T-PCM energy conversion system

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental investigation under real environmental conditions of a solar hybrid energy conversion system consisting of latent heat thermal storage (LHTS) and a PV/T panel. In this context, the heat energy from the sun was transferred to the heat transfer fluid (HTF) by means of a heat collector positioned so as not to affect the solar radiation absorption of the PV/T panel. A closed-loop liquid circulation system was developed between the heat collector and the phase change material (PCM) container to transfer the heat transferred from the sun to the PCM container. In addition, the upper surface was designed with optical material in order to increase the energy storage capacity of the PCM container. In the experimental study, a PV/T panel with a maximum electrical power generation capacity of 40 W, measuring 424 × 674 × 25 mm at a 36° azimuth and tilt angle, was used. Commercial RT55 was used as PCM, and tap water was used as HTF. The experimental study was performed between 9:09 and 18:17 on a sunny day under atmospheric conditions. The results of the paper show that a maximum of 30.56 W of electrical power can be produced from the PV/T panel at 14:00, whereas a maximum of 1.2 W of heat energy can be stored in the PCM container at 11:00. On the other hand, the total power of the solar hybrid energy conversion system reached its maximum value of 31.54 W at 12:00. In addition, the rate of energy stored in the PCM within the solar hybrid energy conversion system reached its highest value at 10:00, with 4.5%.