Solar Photovoltaic Thermal Research Articles

An experimental assessment of a solar PVT-PCM thermal management system in severe climatic conditions

Solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors incorporating phase change material (PCM) as an active-passive cooling approach represent a promising solution for thermally managing PV panels. This needs to be experimentally evaluated in harsh outdoor conditions. Therefore, this study examined the electrical and thermal performance of solar PVT systems in comparison to a reference PV panel during six distinct summer days in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A thermal camera was utilized to precisely capture the difference in temperature variations between the two PV panels over the study periods and to examine different options for the PVT collector. On Day 3, near noon, the highest solar irradiance of 1019 W/m2 led to the highest power of the PVT, with an increase of 5.75 % over the reference panel. The highest ambient temperature of 47.69 °C was recorded on Day 1 with 901.4 W/m2 irradiance, providing 10.58 % electrical efficiency of the PVT, an increase of 5.9 %. On Day 6, the PVT module was equipped with eight rectangular metal conduits that were filled with PCM with a transition temperature range of 41–48 °C. This simple-to-implement design added additional passive cooling for the system through the exterior surface of the metal conduits, along with the PCM contribution. The PTV-PCM option led to the best performance, with an 8.05 % improvement in electrical power and efficiency over the reference PV and 71.16 % and 81.50 % thermal and combined PVT efficiencies, respectively. The importance of cooling the PV panel in such challenging circumstances was illustrated by the 2 %–3.24 % increase in electrical output for every 1 °C decrease in the temperature of the cells.

Performance Evaluation of Solar Photovoltaic Thermal Air Collector Based on Energy and Exergy Analysis

This work presents a comprehensive parametric study of thermal and electrical performance of four different designs of photovoltaic/ thermal air heaters (PV/T) based on energy and exergy analysis. The results are compared to that from the conventional design of flat duct PV/T. The main goal of these designs is to enhance the heat transfer inside the air duct and consequently to increase the system's electrical power output. A computer simulation program has been developed in order to calculate the electrical and thermal PV/T collector parameters. The results indicate that an increase of 52, 52.4, and 68.25 % in the total system efficiency has been achieved from the corrugated duct, double pass design and finned duct respectively. Furthermore, at a low mass flow rates the electrical efficiency has also been improved for the three types by 9.8, 14.6 and 12.6 % respectively compared to that of flat duct design. The temperature of the PV arrays has a major effect on the exergy efficiency and removing heat from the PV module keeps the net power output at satisfactory level.

Comparative Numerical Energy and Performance Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Power Generation

This study analyses fixed and tracking solar photovoltaics and, solar thermal power. Performance in different locations was analysed for each configuration and technology using simulations based on a Typical Meteorological Year data. The study analysed a 25MWp solar photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants in each of the eleven selected locations in Zimbabwe. The performance of the solar photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants under different meteorological variables were assessed for all the selected locations. It was shown that different configurations together with different technologies have different conversion efficiencies. A high solar thermal conversion efficiency was found to be 18.718% in Gweru while it was 15.502% for solar photovoltaics in Mutare. The study also showed that highest insolation and clearness index values were found in Gweru. The average energy generated by the fixed photovoltaic collectors, tracking photovoltaic collectors and the Concentrating Solar Power plant were respectively 47.38GWh, 68.18GWh and 192.86GWh. There was a maximum percentage difference in the LCoE generated of 32.03% between the fixed PV collectors and the Concentrating Solar Power plant and a difference of 4.74% was realised between the tracking photovoltaics and Concentration Solar Power.

Efficiency upgrading of solar PVT finned hybrid system in Bangladesh: Flow rate and temperature influences

This research aims to determine the impact of mass flow rate and inflow temperature on the utility and effectiveness of solar thermal systems using fins with air in various applications in Bangladesh. This study examines a three-dimensional (3D) photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system where we analyze the behavior of a hybrid system with six aluminum sheets (1 mm thick fin as a heat exchange material) inside the heat exchanger where the air takes the direction to pass in waveform through the channels (made of aluminum) using fins. The top side of the fins is bent and affixed to the bottom of the floor of the PV panel to allow heat transfer utilizing the conduction-based method. This study selects inlet fluid mass flow rate and inflow temperature between (0.015–0.535 kg/s), and (10–40 °C) respectively, while comparing the result with experimental/numerical published data based on Bangladesh's weather conditions and applies the finite element method (FEM) to solve heat transfer equations. A brief analysis of the association among Reynolds number with pressure drop and fanning friction factor is included in this paper. Our model can be mounted on building rooftops or open fields where air velocity will be controlled mechanically; thus, it has many applications. This model can be implemented within an agricultural photovoltaic (APV) system, domestic functions, dry agricultural products, and provide heat for greenhouses. The result indicates that 302–514 W thermal energy has been produced for 0.015–0.535 kg/s. For growing inflow temperature, despite the reduction in electrical efficiency, the value of adding electrical and thermal efficiency (overall efficiency) comes with elevation. A 5 °C increase in inflow temperature leads to an overall efficiency increase of 0.33%. This study's findings can help researchers better comprehend air's properties as a heat exchanger in a developed design, and they can be applied to government and commercial projects.

Numerical simulation and experimental verification of solar PVT coupled PEM electrolyzer system for hydrogen production

Hydrogen production by electrolysis of water is the key to the future of hydrogen fuel production. This study proposes a hydrogen production system based on the thermoelectric demand for proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMEs) and the characteristics of the thermoelectric output of photovoltaic (PV) thermal (PVT) systems. The proposed system combines PVT and PEME to realize thermoelectric hydrogen–oxygen multiproduction and establishes and validates the thermoelectric coupled numerical model used for the prediction of the operating characteristics of the PVT-PEME system. Furthermore, it investigates and compares the irradiation intensity, ambient temperature, and inlet flow rate of the PVT-PEME and PV-PEME systems, and estimates the operating characteristics of the PVT-PEME system in different climates. The results show that the electrolyzer energy efficiency tends to increase and then decrease with increasing irradiation intensity; the PVT-PEME efficiency increases with increasing ambient temperature; and the PV-PEME efficiency decreases with increasing ambient temperature. Moreover, the efficiency of the electrolyzer decreases with an increase in the inlet flow rate, but the PVT-PEME efficiency increases. The high temperature inhibits the performance of PV modules, which is promoted in PEME after heat exchange in the PVT system, improving the operating efficiency. In addition, an evaluation of the actual operating characteristics of the PVT-PEME hydrogen production system in different climates indicates that the system operated for shorter and less efficient times when operating at cold and low irradiation intensities.

Investigation of a Photovoltaic–Thermal Solar Dryer System with Double-Pass Solar Air Collectors and Absorber Surfaces Enhanced with Graphene Nanoparticles

As a result of increasing energy demand, seeking eco-friendly and sustainable energy resources increases the interest in renewable energy, specifically solar energy. In this study, a novel photovoltaic–thermal solar dryer system with double-pass solar air collectors and nano-enhanced absorber surface was developed, and its performance was experimentally investigated. Initially, a double-pass solar dryer (DPSD) with an absorber surface of flexible aluminum ducts coated with black matte paint was produced. Then, a double-pass solar dryer (NDPSD) consisting of flexible aluminum ducts coated with graphene and black paint was designed. These two systems were experimentally and simultaneously examined, and parameters such as energy and exergy efficiency, drying rate, and moisture ratio, which are the performance indicators of solar air collectors and the drying process, were analyzed. The sustainability parameters were also considered as a part of the analysis. The mean thermal efficiency of the solar air collectors for DPSD and NDPSD was calculated as 57.23 and 73.36%, respectively, where the airflow rates were measured as 0.024 and 0.017 kg/s. Furthermore, under the same airflow rate conditions, while the mean exergy efficiency of the collector was 27.77% for NDPSD, it was calculated as 16.64% for DPSD. Moreover, exergy efficiencies of the drying chamber varied between 27.35% and 82.20% for NDPSD and between 21.03 and 81.25% for DPSD, under the airflow rates of 0.012–0.016 kg/s conditions, respectively.

Mitigating PV cell cracking in solar photovoltaic thermal collectors with a novel H-pattern absorber design

This paper introduces a novel absorber design for a Solar Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) collector, specifically addressing the persistent issue of cell cracking induced by thermal expansion. Despite considerable research efforts to advance PVT technology, cell cracking remains a critical challenge, contributing to decreased collector efficiency. In contrast to previous studies, this research adopts a unique approach. A novel PVT design is proposed, featuring an aluminium alloy structure with a distinctive 'H'-shaped pattern of expansion cavities positioned between Photovoltaic (PV) cells and the absorber. This innovative design is engineered to mitigate thermal expansion and optimize the overall performance of the collector.A 3-D Computational Fluid Dynamic model, simulated using ANSYS software, validates the proposed PVT design against experimental data from a reference collector. A parametric study explores various H-pattern cavity dimensions, revealing that the 2 mm H-pattern plate cavity design achieves the lowest directional expansion, minimizing the risk of breakage. Results show that the proposed design outperforms the reference collector by 10 %, 2 %, and 8 % in thermal, electrical, and overall efficiency, respectively. Furthermore, the H-pattern design reduces thermal expansion by 20 %, enhancing structural resilience and minimizing the likelihood of PV cell cracking. This study represents a significant advancement in PVT technology, providing a practical and easily implementable solution to the critical issue of cell cracking and presenting an optimal design for real-world applications.

Numerical Analysis of the Phase Change Material Impact on the Functionality of a Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal Solar System in Transient Conditions

Numerical Analysis of the Phase Change Material Impact on the Functionality of a Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal Solar System in Transient Conditions

Optimal evaluation of photovoltaic-thermal solar collectors cooling using a half-tube of different diameters and lengths

Photovoltaic Thermal Solar Collectors (PVTs) combine the advantages of photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal collectors to produce electricity and heat simultaneously. This study proposes a numerical model to investigate the effectiveness of using half-circular tubes to improve thermal conductivity and increase the interaction area between PV panels and tubes. This enhances heat transfer from the PV panels to the working fluid (water) circulating through the thermal absorber. Additionally, the integration of phase change material (PCM) is explored to further boost thermal conductivity and generate hot water. The research focuses on modeling the cooling of solar PV panels using copper half-tubes. The PV panels measure 870 × 665 × 3 mm and generate a power output of 100 W. The study examines the impact of key variables such as tube diameter (three standard sizes: 10, 12, and 15 mm) and fluid flow rate (0.008 to 0.04 kg/s). Solar radiation equations are incorporated, and the finite volume approach, implemented in the ANSYS 19.0 software's CFX modeling framework, is used as the underlying methodology. The investigation culminates in an optimization process to determine the optimal operating conditions for the PV system. The results show that the highest electrical efficiency (13.15%) is achieved at a flow rate of 0.04 kg/s for 15 mm diameter tubes and 7 tubes in total. The peak thermal efficiency (74.28%) is observed under the same conditions. In conclusion, this study contributes to the understanding of enhancing PV/T system performance through innovative thermal management strategies and provides valuable optimization recommendations for achieving improved electrical and thermal efficiencies.

The Use of the Taguchi Method with Grey Relational Analysis for Nanofluid-Phase Change-Optimized Parameter Design at a Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Thermal Composite Module for Small Households

This study aims to optimize the process parameters of the nanofluid-phase change-solar photovoltaic thermal (nanofluid-PCM-PV/T) composite module. In particular, the organic paraffin was selected as a phase change material, while water, CuO, and Al2O3 were selected as nanofluids. The TRNSYS 16.0 software was employed to model and analyze the composite module. The Taguchi method with the main effect analysis (MEA), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the orthogonal table were established to investigate the impact of each control factor on the power generation and heat storage efficiency. Grey relational analysis (GRA) was adopted to obtain the parameters for multi-quality optimization. The result showed that the power generation efficiency in this study was 14.958%, and the heat storage efficiency was 64.764%. Meanwhile, in the conventional PV/T module, the former was 12.74%, and the latter was 34.06%, respectively. Verification results showed that the confidence intervals of both single-quality and multi-quality optimization parameter sets were within 95%. The errors of the results from both theoretical simulation and real testing were smaller than 5%. In the case of a generally small family of four members using electric/water heaters, the rooftop module in this study was more efficient than the typical rooftop PV/T by 25.04%. The former’s investment recovery period was lower than 0.81 years.

A solar spectral splitting-based PVT collector with packed transparent tube receiver for co-generation of heat and electricity

Combined heating and power (CHP) systems co-generating electrical energy as well as thermal energy is indispensable for modern-day distributed applications. Photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems are such hybrid co-generation systems. However, in a conventional PVT system, the PV module/cell temperature restricts the thermal output, making these systems unsuitable for various applications. This study offers a novel and resilient design for a spectral beam splitting-powered compound parabolic collector-based PVT system that employs a nanofluid optical filter within borosilicate glass tubes for volumetric absorption. By maximizing the “splitting effect”, the goal of this work is to disrupt the long-standing relationship between the thermal and electrical yield from a PVT collector, i.e., obtaining a higher heat transfer fluid temperature than the PV cell temperature. Several configurations with varying array width-to-receiver tube diameter ratios, i.e. bdo ratios (ranging from 3 to 8) and one, two, and three rows/layers of receiver tubes were evaluated and compared. The optical and thermal performance of the collector designs are compared using metrics such as heat flux distribution, optical efficiency, temperature distribution, receiver efficiency, and splitting ratio. This work determines how the splitting effect dictates the performances of the collector. Through the ray-tracing routine and thermal analysis, it is demonstrated that for certain bdo ratios, the developed collector attained a maximum cumulative temperature rise of >100∘ C using ZnO–water–ethylene glycol nanofluid as the optical filter. Also, the receiver and electrical efficiency of 51.81% and 18.77%, respectively, are achieved. Moreover, the packed borosilicate glass receiver tubes with a bdo ratio of 8 and two receiver rows/layers achieved the so-called “splitting ratio” (ratio of filter fluid temperature to cell temperature; THTFTcell) of >1.6. The studied configurations find their application depending on the extent of the achieved splitting ratio. Based on these findings, it is concluded that the analyzed packed glass tube receiver designs provide a viable new route towards cost-effective and dependable robust PVT collectors for distributed and other applications.

Performance enhancement of photovoltaic solar collector using fins and bi-fluid: Thermal efficiency study

This work exhibits a three-dimensional numerical investigation of a solar collector Photovoltaic Thermal (PV/T) bi-fluid based on the use of dual exchangers cooling with both water and air simultaneously. The effect of the absorber plate design and water mass flow rate (mf) of water and natural airflow has been studied according to the fins added to the system, which mainly includes a flat plate of aluminum attached to the tubes of aluminum. The objective is to analyze the effects of water mf fluctuating between 0.01 and 0.02 kg/s, fins location and number (from 20 to 40 fins), and changing solar irradiation values (100 to 1050 W/m2) on the flow structure and thermal efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells. The hybrid collectors studied are made of monocrystalline photovoltaic cells and an absorber plate of aluminum in the lower of the PV module. An evaluation was made between three configurations of bi-fluid (air and water) PV/T manifolds according to the number of fins. The first configuration is a hybrid PV/T system containing tubes without fins. The second configuration is a hybrid PV/T system containing tubes attached with 20 fins. The third configuration is a hybrid PV/T system containing tubes attached with 40 fins. The results confirm that the thermal efficiency of the PV/T system using (water and air) as a working fluid increase with increasing the number of fins (from 20 to 40 fins) and with increasing solar radiation (100 to 1050 W/m2), but it decreases a little with increasing mf of water (0.01 to 0.02 kg/s) by about 1.1%. For the mf of water equal to 0.01 kg/s, the thermal efficiency of the PVT system configurations 1, 2, and 3 are equal to 50.54%, 52.33%, and 54.25%, respectively. The optimal design for good cooling of the photovoltaic cells and higher yields of the hybrid collector is the third configuration with a water mf of 0.01 kg/s.

Transient performance simulation and technoeconomic assessment of a smart building energy plant driven by solar energy coupled to a reversible heat pump

In developing building energy sector, employment of smart energy plants with advanced control strategies is essential to reduce energy consumption and to increase inhabitants' comfort. The solar Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) panels are considered as the key elements for smart building energy supply. In the present research, a combination of solar PVTs with a reversible heat pump is designed and analyzed to provide electricity, cooling, and heating energies of a case study building. The plant also includes control equipment and energy storage tank to insure smart operation under different climate conditions. The proposed plant can also be employed for a larger scale to provide energy demands of a district area. Thermal characteristics and economic features of the proposed plant are taken into account to assess its transient performance using TRNSYS software for a case study location in China with considering real climate conditions of ambient temperature and sun radiation. The produced electricity as well as cooling and heating duties are evaluated for different specifications of PVT panels and the storage tanks’ volumes. The plant performance is appraised in terms of total capital cost, CO2 saving ratio, and the payback period. Finally a multi-objective optimization is carried out and the Pareto frontier for three objectives is represented. It has been concluded that, under optimal operation, the proposed building energy plant has a 5 year payback period with 1.93 CO2 saving ratio and 513328 $. Also it is found that, the volume of storage tanks has a significant effect on economic indicators as well as the CO2 saving ratio.

A Comparative Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Thermal (PV/T) System with Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System

A Comparative Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Thermal (PV/T) System with Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System

Experimental validation of a solar system based on hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collectors and a reversible heat pump for the energy provision in non-residential buildings

This work aims to validate a transient model of a solar hybrid pilot plant based on photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) collectors integrated via thermal storage tanks with an air-to-water reversible heat pump (rev-HP). The pilot plant is in operation and provides space heating, cooling, domestic hot water (DHW) and electricity to an industrial building located in Zaragoza (Spain). The plant consists of eight uncovered PV-T collectors (2.6 kWe, 13.6 m2), two water tanks and a rev-HP with a nominal thermal power of 16 kW for heating and 10.5 kW for cooling. The validation results show that the transient model fits the experimental performance of the PV-T collectors, with an average error of -16% and 3%, for the thermal and electrical generation respectively. The accuracy of the estimated rev-HP performance depends on the operation mode. The estimated COP in cooling mode has an average error of 14%, while in heating mode has an average error of -10%. The results show that the integration of the thermal and electrical generation of the PV-T collectors with a high-performance rev-HP allows the solar PV-T system to be self-sufficient to satisfy the building energy demand.

Evaluation of a solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system in a dairy farm in Germany

Livestock farms are a major contributor to CO2 emissions. The use of renewable energy sources (RES) is an important step to mitigate emissions from farms. This paper develops and evaluates a market-integrated, cost-effective, and case-sensitive RES solution for livestock farms. For this purpose, the dairy farm at LVAT-ATB in Germany; which includes three barns for milk production with a total area of 3950 m2, was considered. A solar PVT system is designed to most effectively use the heat recovery of the milk coolers and to use the thermal heat from the PVT system to lift the inlet temperature of an electric boiler (E-boiler) and reduce grid electricity consumption. The performance and monthly thermal output of the designed PVT system are evaluated using two different PVT collectors; Solarus (concentrated) and Dual Sun (flat plate). A preliminary analysis was performed to determine the PVT collector most suitable for the livestock farm here studied. The DualSun collector generated a higher electricity output than the Solarus C-PVT, however, the C-PVT was able to reach higher temperatures. Since the LVAT-ATB farm site included an existing heat recovery system, the integration point was carefully defined and a semi-automated system was incorporated to (1) use the heat from the heat recovery system as the inlet heat for the PVT system and (2), to use the PVT buffer tank as additional storage to store excess heat from the heat recovery system. Using this approach, a maximum amount of thermal energy can be stored. The PVT system would further raise the temperature from the heat recovery system and thus minimize the electricity consumption of the E-boiler. Furthermore, a draft layout of all the components and outdoor enclosure was presented. 24 Solarus PVT collectors running at mean temperature of 45 °C meet 16% of the annual hot water demand of the dairy farm by direct solar heat and this number of PVTs can supply up to 38% of hot water demand in summer months. The payback period for this system is less than 6 years and annual electrical energy utilization ratio and highest solar thermal fraction are 9.7 and 51.9%, respectively. Furthermore, 24 PVTs on an annual basis, generate slightly more than 4,200 kWh of electricity that can be used to offset electricity consumed by electric boilers in the LVAT farm.

Decision Making on the Renewable Energy Penetration in Malaysia via SWOT-PESTLE Analysis: Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Solar Photovoltaic Thermal Technology

Malaysia is actively working to move towards renewable energy (RE) generation for sustainable growth. Hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) and solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) feature emerging RE technologies that can supersede conventional power generation performance. HFC and PVT utilize renewable resources, which are hydrogen, oxygen and sunlight, to produce electricity without compromising the environment. However, no in-depth evaluation has been conducted to assist the decision-making of Malaysia’s HFC and PVT technology penetration. This study provides decisions on the feasibility and viability of HFC and PVT based on the Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat (SWOT) and Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environment (PESTLE) analyses. Based on the SWOT-PESTLE analysis, PVT exhibits great potential in Malaysia’s RE portfolio compared to HFC. Technology readiness and social acceptance are the merits of PVT diffusion in Malaysia. Nevertheless, this preliminary decision entails validation from the industries and experts to underpin the shorthand assessment of the present work

A review of multistage solar driven photovoltaic–thermal​ components with cascade energy storage system for tri-generation

Energy demand has exponentially increased in recent times, mainly because of population and economic growth as well as high standards of living in commercial and residential buildings. Conventional power systems have been undergoing great transformation owing to the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) and demand side management programs. Solar Photovoltaic–Thermal (PV/T) is one of the most growing Renewable Energy Resources (RERs) because of its low carbon emission, high energy efficiency, cost effectiveness, readily available, among other benefits. Several researches have been explored to enhance the performance of different components in the building integrated systems distributed solar energy for tri-generation: heating, cooling and electricity generation. The Photovoltaic–Thermal (PV/T) energy system may be enhanced using various advanced control schemes and cooling technologies. Energy storage systems have shown outstanding benefits by improving the reliability and security of modern power systems. Ice Thermal Energy Storage (ITES) systems have been used for cooling loads, while Heat Storage Water Tank (HSWT) are used for hot water demand. Alternatively, battery banks have been used for storing chemical energy and releasing electricity to the demand side. This reviewed work highlights various components of a solar driven grid-connected PV/T energy system, considering the ITES, HSWT and a battery bank under-price based Demand Response (DR) in terms of the optimal sizing and operational control.

No fins attached? Numerical analysis of internal–external fins coupled PCM melting for solar applications

Thermal energy storage/sink is imperative for any type of solar energy harnessing system/technology. However, the inevitable challenge remains in developing and optimizing a thermal energy storage (TES) system suitable for long cyclic operation. This work numerically analyses the melting characteristics of phase change material (PCM; RT42)-based latent thermal energy storage (LTES) as a two-dimensional rectangular enclosure. The consequence of utilizing internal–external extended surfaces (fins) with realistic convective boundary condition is studied for photovoltaic thermal (PVT) applications. The application of internal–external fins is intended for enhancing the charging (melting) duration according to the long cyclic solar operation and better dissipation of heat after complete melting. Three kind of fins-rectangular, triangular, and Y-type- are investigated for two orientations of storage/sink enclosures-upright ( θ = 90°) and inclined ( θ = 35°). Moreover, three fin configurations are analyzed-equal, decreasing and increasing-stepped-based on the arrangement of fins along the enclosure height. Two-dimensional, transient numerical simulations are conducted for governing PCM melting, contemplating the consequences of natural convection. The performance assessment of each storage unit (orientation/fin-type/fin-arrangement) is made based on parameters such as time enhancement ratio, suppression ratio, liquid fraction, temperature distribution, melt velocity magnitude, storage capacity/rate, and enhancement in Nusselt number. The melting is delayed for triangular and Y-fins enclosures as compared to that for rectangular fins. Equal and increasing-stepped Y-fin arrangements yielded the largest time enhancement ratios of 42.38% and 29.86% for inclined and upright enclosures, respectively. Moreover, Y-fins-based enclosure produced a larger average suppression ratio as compared to other types of fins. A 2.56, 2.67, and 2.64 times enhancement in Nusselt number is observed for increasing-stepped fin arrangement of rectangular, triangular, and Y-finned upright enclosures, respectively. However, for the inclined enclosure, a 2.32 times enhancement in Nusselt number is reported for increasing-stepped Y-fin. • Internal–external fin-coupled thermal storage for cyclic solar PVT applications. • Utilization of rectangular, triangular, and Y-fins in augmenting PCM melting. • Assessment of 3 configurations/fin-immersions for intensifying convection currents. • Effect of cavity inclination on melting characteristics for long duty operation. • Maximum 2.67 times Nusselt number enhancement for increasing triangular fin.

Performance Optimization of a Simulation Study on Phase Change Material for Photovoltaic Thermal

The integration of Phase Change Material (PCM) with the Solar Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) serves as heat storage to enhance the system's performance. Temperature rises have an undesirable effect on efficiency results in a diminishment in the amount of energy produced by the solar panel. Parametric analysis and temperature investigation are involved in improving the performance of the system. The variation of performance will assist in developing an optimized PVT-PCM system. The model is validated by comparison from published journals on the studies related to phase change material implemented in solar PVT. For the variation of mass flow rate, the overall efficiencies achieved by 10 kg/h, 30 kg/h, 50 kg/h and 70 kg/h are 90.82%, 90.54%, 90.48% and 90.46%, respectively. In addition, solar irradiance of 200 W/m2, 450 W/m2 and 800 W/m2 produced 91.17%, 90.82% and 90.33% of overall efficiencies. Increased in flow rate requires stronger pumps which increase the total cost of the system. Therefore, identifying the optimal flow rate might help to achieve an appropriate thermal efficiency while sustaining in low costs. Finally, this paper presented a numerical investigation of PCM acts as promising elements incorporated in the PVT system that has the capability to reduce the temperature of the PVT-PCM system.