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 27.97oC to
41.59oC, providing a complete pattern of effectiveness and ineffectiveness of phase
change material. The highest average value for maximum temperature reduction of
9.28oC 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.
