Unlocking the potential of passive cooling: A comprehensive experimental study of PV/PCM/TEC hybrid system for enhanced photovoltaic performance

Abstract

In recent times, one major direction in which researchers are taking interest is the cooling of PV systems, and in that direction, passive cooling techniques like thermoelectric cooling, the use of phase change material, or hybrid PV systems based on TEC and PCM are at the forefront of this research interest as the first-generation solar PV has a very low conversion efficiency that is primarily caused by the high temperature of the cells. This research conducts a thorough long-term experimental study on PV/PCM/TEC, exploring their effectiveness under changing weather conditions. A new design integrates PCM and TEC on the PV module's backside, ensuring free convection is maintained. The study aims to assess the potential of these cooling techniques for enhancing photovoltaic system performance. On average, the phase change temperature of the ternary mixture gradually increases from 27.97 °C to 41.59 °C, providing a complete pattern of effectiveness and ineffectiveness of phase change material. The highest average value for maximum temperature reduction of 9.28 °C and maximum output power of 9.69 % was achieved by PV/PCM/TEC in comparison to reference PV module. Another notable finding is that TECs based on PCM offer higher power output compared to TECs without PCM, while in the absence of PCM, TECs and the PV interface require a conductive thermal paste to enhance heat transfer and improve power output. Despite the limitations posed by the fixed encapsulation thickness and quantity of the phase change material, the reported results demonstrate the positive impact of PCM in comparison to both standard PV and PV/TEC systems.