Phase change material as a heat sink for solar photovoltaic: A numerical study on the thermo-physical properties and thickness effects under actual weather conditions

Abstract

This numerical study examines the thermal performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) with phase change material (PCM) as a heat sink under real ambient conditions. A mathematical model is developed to assess the comparability between PV and PV with PCM in a one-dimensional unsteady state condition. The influence of PCM properties such as density, thermal conductivity, melting point temperature, and latent heat on the thermal performance of PV module is analyzed. The impact of altering PCM layer thickness is also explored. Results show that the PV-PCM system can keep a nominal operating temperature for a longer duration of energy generation, which enhances the efficiency and lifespan of the PV module. The peak solar cell temperature for conventional PV without PCM is 81.8°C at 12.15 pm, while for PV with PCM, it is 74.8°C at 12.40 pm, indicating a reduction of 6.9°C or 9.3%. The deviation of maximum temperature between standard PV and PV-PCM systems is 24.8°C or 35% diminished temperature, achieved at 10 am.