Study on impact of photovoltaic power tracking modes on photovoltaic-photothermal performance of PV-PCM-Trombe wall system

Abstract

Due to the lack of research on the impact of photovoltaic (PV) power tracking methods on the performance of Building-Integrated Photovoltaic-Thermal (BIPV/T) systems, this study comparatively analyzes the photovoltaic-photothermal performance of the PV-PCM-Trombe Wall system operating in Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) modes during winter passive heating conditions. Additionally, the study investigates the influence of these modes on the thermal characteristics of buildings. The results indicate that the MPPT strategy achieved a PV efficiency of 15.50 %, while the PWM strategy resulted in a significant reduction to 12.72 % (a decrease of 2.78 % compared to MPPT). Importantly, both strategies effectively utilized solar energy for passive space heating without noticeable differences in photothermal performance. Furthermore, the study observed that the upper part of the PCM plate reached higher peak temperatures earlier in the vertical dimension. Experiment A exhibited peak temperatures ranging from 33.57 °C to 34.76 °C, while Experiment B had a wider range of 27.99 °C to 36.10 °C. Minimal temperature variations were observed across the PCM plate in the thickness direction, measuring only 0.60 °C in Experiment A and 0.70 °C in Experiment B. These research findings provide valuable insights into the roles and impacts of different PV power tracking strategies in PV-PCM-Trombe wall systems.