Experimental Study of the Use of Phase Change Materials as Cooling Media on Photovoltaic Panels

Hamdani Umar,Razali Thaib,T Azuar Rizal

doi:10.24018/ejers.2021.6.3.2405

Hamdani Umar, Razali Thaib + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.24018/ejers.2021.6.3.2405

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Abstract

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a combination of electrical technology from photovoltaic solar panels (PV) with building construction. The PV panel was mounted onto the frames attached to the building's main outer wall. When solar radiation energy comes into contact on the PV surface, some part is reflected in the surroundings while mostly absorbed in the PV panel. The energy absorbed is converted into electricity while the rest dissipates into thermal energy, which increases the surface temperature of PV. The increases in the panels' surface temperature negatively impact the electrical output and PV panels' long-term reliability. One of them is the use of phase change materials (PCM) as heat storage materials. This research also emphasizes the use of beeswax as a material for storing heat energy. Using the T-History method by fusing beeswax, show that the temperature range between 49,40 to 57.15 oC with latent enthalpy 151.65 kJ/kg. In this research, we tested the use of PCM as a heat storage material for PV panels. Two types of containers to accommodate PCM are used, triangular containers and semicircular containers. From the test results, it was found that beeswax can function well as a heat storage so that the surface temperature of the PV + PCM panel is lower than that of standard PV. So that the voltage generated is higher than standard PV panels.

Highlights

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a combination of electrical technology from photovoltaic solar panels (PV) with building construction
This study evaluated the characterization of organic, inorganic, and eutectic phase change materials (PCM) applications on PV panels and a study of the effect of using five PCM candidates on PV surface temperature regulation and PV panel performance using three types of insulating materials
If a comparison between triangular container and semicircular container is obtained, the average upper surface temperature of the PV + PCM panel using a triangle container is smaller than the semicircular container

Summary

INTRODUCTION1

Renewable energy continues to be a larger part of the global energy mix, in the electricity supply sector. The PV-PCM system is a hybrid technology integrating PV and PCM panels into a single PV panel to increase the higher solar energy conversion efficiency. PV panels receive solar radiation energy and convert some parts into electricity, while the rest of the radiation energy is converted into heat, transferred to the PCM container. The PCM selection criteria are suitable for BIPV systems, including melting temperature, latent heat, thermal conductivity, and different configuration designs for PVPCM integration. This study evaluated the characterization of organic, inorganic, and eutectic PCM applications on PV panels and a study of the effect of using five PCM candidates on PV surface temperature regulation and PV panel performance using three types of insulating materials. The description above concluded that the use of PCM in the BPIV system still requires further study in (i) PCM selection, (ii) mathematical modeling to obtain information about ongoing heat transfer, and (iii) PV-PCM performance testing on the BPIV system on outdoor conditions

MATERIAL AND METHODS

AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION