Optimization of a New Phase Change Material Integrated Photovoltaic/Thermal Panel with The Active Cooling Technique Using Taguchi Method

Xiaohong Liu, Yuekuan Zhou, Chun-Qing Li, Yaolin Lin, Wei Yang and Guoqiang Zhang
Additional contact information
Xiaohong Liu: College of Architecture, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
Yuekuan Zhou: National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
Chun-Qing Li: School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia
Yaolin Lin: College of Architecture, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
Wei Yang: College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne 8001, Australia
Guoqiang Zhang: College of Architecture, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: This paper investigates the energy performances of a hybrid system composed of a phase change materials-ventilated Trombe wall (PCMs-VTW) and a photovoltaic/thermal panel integrated with phase change material (PV/T-PCM). Equivalent overall output energy (Q E ) was proposed for energy performance evaluation regarding different energy forms, diversified conversions and hybrid thermal storages. This study focuses on parameters’ optimization of the PV/T-PCM system and parameters in the PCMs-VTW are kept optimal. Based on the experimentally validated numerical modelling, nine trial experiments have been conducted following Taguchi L 9 (3 4 ) standard orthogonal array. The higher the better concept was implemented and the optimal combination of operating parameters was thereafter identified by using signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method. The results show that Q E is highly dependent on the mass flow rate, followed by the diameter of active cooling water pipe. However, the inlet cooling water temperature and the thickness of PCM have limited influence on Q E . The optimal combination of each factor was identified as B3A3C2D1 (mass flow rate of 1 kg/s, diameter of water pipe of 0.6 m, inlet cooling water temperature of 15 °C and the thickness of PCM of 20 mm) with the highest Q E of 20,700 kWh.

Keywords: phase change material; photovoltaic/thermal panel; equivalent overall output energy; Taguchi method; ventilated trombe wall (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (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)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/6/1022/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/6/1022/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:6:p:1022-:d:214336

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().