Performance comparison of encapsulated PCM PV/T, microchannel heat pipe PV/T and conventional PV/T systems

Mawufemo Modjinou, Jie Ji, Weiqi Yuan, Fan Zhou, Sarah Holliday, Adeel Waqas and Xudong Zhao

Energy, 2019, vol. 166, issue C, 1249-1266

Abstract: This paper compares a novel macro-encapsulated phase change material (PCM) based solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system and micro-channel heat pipes (MCHP) PV/T with a conventional PV/T. PV/Ts are vulnerable to the freezing-damages and get badly influenced by freezing weather. This problem occurs as a result of the poor performance and failure of the heat transfer system to prevent the circulating fluid from freezing. PCM and MCHP are essential heat and cold conditioning systems with a wide range of applications that can be used to optimize the performance of PV/T. Specifically, this article used PCM and MCHP to analyse the performance and optimisation options of the novel PV/T systems theoretically and numerically. Mathematical models were developed to predict the performance of the systems. The results revealed good agreements between the model simulation and experimental measurement with sufficient confidence. The results show that the combined daily average photothermal and electrical efficiency can reach 36.71%, 35.53% and 31.78% for the encapsulated PCM, MCHP and regular or conventional PV/T systems respectively. Our results showed that the macro-encapsulated PCM panels and MCHP prevented freezing of regular PV/T to some extent.

Keywords: Macro-encapsulated phase change materials; Panels; Micro-channel heat pipe; PCM; Freezing; Photothermal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:166:y:2019:i:c:p:1249-1266

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.10.007

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