Thermal performance and flash point analyses of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system using multiple types of PCMs and various panel inclination angles under the effect of a constant heat flux

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This numerical study conducts a comparative analysis of various phase change materials (PCMs) including Lauric Acid, Paraffin, RT 24, RT 31, RT 35, RT 38, RT 42, RT 47, RT 50, and Lithium Nitrate Trihydrate (LiNO3.3H2O) to assess their suitability for optimizing the thermal management of a solar concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system. The analysis focuses on the temperature regulation capabilities, melting dynamics of the used PCMs, along the electrical efficiency of the CPV system across a range of inclination angles (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°) under a constant heat flux of 1000 W/m². The research aims to identify the most effective solutions for enhancing the efficiency and reliability of solar concentrator systems. Key considerations such as PCM’s flash points, liquid fraction and convective behavior are addressed for each PCM type. Numerical results obtained using ANSYS Fluent indicate that Lithium Nitrate Trihydrate (LiNO3.3H2O) outperformed most paraffin-based PCMs, such as RT 24 and RT 35, with around 24 % higher electrical efficiency. Although Lauric Acid was approximately 19.5 % less efficient than Lithium Nitrate Trihydrate, it offered superior long-term thermal stability due to its slower melting rate and phase change temperature of 43–44°C, taking 45.33 % longer to melt compared to Paraffin RT 24. RT 50, with its higher melting temperature of 50°C, provided a balance between melting period and efficiency, making it an ideal PCM for applications requiring both moderate efficiency and sustained thermal regulation.