Multidimensional assessment of a photovoltaic air collector integrated phase changing material considering Mexican climatic conditions

Abstract

The integration of a photovoltaic-thermal-air collector with phase changing material is subjected to local climatic dynamics. The prime novelty of this work is to include the climatic dynamics for the selection of phase changing material specifically applied for Mexico and to analyze the system based on multidimensional parameters. In other words, the main achievement of this work is to present an energetically, exergetically, and economically viable PVT assembly with phase changing material depending on the weather dynamics. The yearly equivalent analysis is carried out for three different climatic zones within the Köppen classification (Aw, BSh, and Cwb) to select the optimal phase-changing material. Fifteen multidimensional performance indicators are analyzed which are based on energy, exergy, exergetic sustainability, life cycle CO2 emissions, enviroeconomic, exergoenvironmental, and economic analysis. The results have shown that a temperature decrement as high as ∼20% can be attained for the best-selected phase-changing material. The electrical, thermal and exergetic efficiency ranges from ∼8 to ∼11%, 25–∼33% and ∼13–∼17% respectively. The carbon pricing factor ranges from $20.00-$32.00 MXN per year. For the life cycle cost analysis, the local inflation, and the discount rate is considered. The Levelized Cost of energy ranges from $3.09 MXN/(kWh) to $4.30 MXN/(kWh) and the payback period ranges from ∼10 to ∼15 years.