A Portable Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal Application: Shape-Stabilised Phase-Change Material with Metal Flakes for Enhanced Heat Transfer

Pakin Maneechot (), Nivadee Klungsida, Thep Kueathaweekun, Narut Butploy, Sawet Somnugpong, Kanokwan Khiewwan, Jaturong Thongchai, Khumphicha Tantisantisom, Tholkappiyan Ramachandran, Madhan Kuppusamy and Karthikeyan Velmurugan ()
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Pakin Maneechot: Department of Energy, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet 62000, Thailand
Nivadee Klungsida: Department of Energy, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet 62000, Thailand
Thep Kueathaweekun: Department of Energy, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet 62000, Thailand
Narut Butploy: Department of Computer Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet 62000, Thailand
Sawet Somnugpong: Department of Computer Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet 62000, Thailand
Kanokwan Khiewwan: Department of Computer Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet 62000, Thailand
Jaturong Thongchai: Department of Computer Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet 62000, Thailand
Khumphicha Tantisantisom: Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet 62000, Thailand
Tholkappiyan Ramachandran: Department of Physics, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
Madhan Kuppusamy: Department of Physics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Saveetha University, Chennai 602105, India
Karthikeyan Velmurugan: Smart Energy System Integration Research Unit, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: Photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) applications have been widely studied in recent years, though commercialisation has become critical due to their operational characteristics and size. In this study, a portable PVT system was developed for mobilisation with assistance from an organic phase-change material (PCM). Two different PCM composites were developed using the PCM with charcoal (PCM + C) and charcoal and metal flakes (PCM + C + M). Considering the portability of the PVT system, conventional metal-container-based PCM storage units were avoided, and the shape-stabilised PCMs (SS-PCMs) were fitted directly on the back surface of the PV module. Further, a serpentine copper tube was placed on the SS-PCMs to extract heat energy for hot water applications. It was found that PV PCM+C+M exhibited a higher cooling rate, with peak reductions of 24.82 °C and 4.19 °C compared to the PV noPCM and PV PCM+C , respectively. However, PV PCM+C exhibited a higher outlet water temperature difference of 11.62 °C. Secondly, an increase of more than 0.2 litres per minute showed a declining trend in cooling in the PV module. Considering the primary concern of electrical power generation, it was concluded that PV PCM+C+M is suitable for PVT mobilisation applications, owing to it having shown the highest thermal cooling per 190 g of PCM and a 1-Watt (TCPW) cooling effect of 2.482 °C. In comparison, PV PCM+C achieved a TCPW cooling effect of 1.399 °C.

Keywords: hybrid application; shape-stabilised PCM; metal flakes; efficiency enhancement (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: 2025
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