Performance Improvement of a CPV System: Experimental Investigation into Passive Cooling with Phase Change Materials

Shivangi Sharma, Nazmi Sellami, Asif A. Tahir, Tapas K. Mallick and Rohit Bhakar
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Shivangi Sharma: Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Nazmi Sellami: School of Engineering, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen AB10 7GJ, UK
Asif A. Tahir: Environmental and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
Tapas K. Mallick: Environmental and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
Rohit Bhakar: Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur 302017, India

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: High temperature and overheating of photovoltaic panels lead to efficiency losses and eventual degradation. For solar PV systems, this is a significant impediment for achieving economic viability. In this study, a novel Window-Integrated Concentrated Photovoltaic (WICPV) system is proposed for window integration. This offers high (50%) transparency and is fabricated and characterised indoors at an irradiance of 1000 Wm −2 . Its electrical performance is tested (a) without applied cooling (i.e., under natural ventilation) and (b) with a heat sink to accommodate passive cooling media. The results are compared to study the effects of reduction in operating temperature on system performances. The effectiveness of a sensible cooling medium (water) and two latent heat removal media, phase change materials (or PCMs, RT50 and RT28HC), is investigated. This paper reports the passive temperature regulation of this WICPV at ambient testing conditions. The results demonstrate an increase in electrical power output by (i) 17% (RT28HC), (ii) 19% (RT50), and (iii) 25 % (circulating water) compared with the naturally ventilated system. This shows that PCMs are considerably useful for thermal regulation of the WICPV. Any improvement in efficiencies will be beneficial for increasing electrical energy generation and reducing peak energy demands.

Keywords: Building-Integrated Concentrated Photovoltaic (BICPV); Window-Integrated Concentrated Photovoltaic (WICPV); phase change materials (PCMs); RT28HC; RT50; thermal management; passive cooling (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: 2021
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