Performance improvement of solar PV through the thermal management using a nano-PCM

Abstract

Solar energy conversion to electricity is gaining popularity as the cost of solar energy continues to decline as a result of government policy choices supporting green energy. However, the panel's efficiency is noteworthy, consistently hovering around 15%. Due to the direct sun rays, the surface temperature of the photovoltaic panel varies substantially during the day, which has a major effect on its performance. Thus, effective thermal management of the photovoltaic panel is essential to maximize the panel's efficiency. The purpose of this work was to increase the efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels by appropriately controlling the absorbed thermal radiation through the use of a Nano-Phase Change Material (nano-PCM). Nano-PCM was produced by diffusing nano-CuO particles at a minimum volume percent inside a paraffin matrix (1.0 vol%). During the experimentation, two PV panels with a similar capacity (30 Watts) and design were employed. The first panel was employed without alteration, while the second panel was combined with the nano-PCM for thermal management. Both PV panels were examined between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00p.m. on clear sun days. The results indicated that the integration of nano-PCM resulted in a considerable reduction in panel surface temperature and an increase in electrical efficiency.