Experimental Analysis of a Novel PV/T Panel with PCM and Heat Pipes

David González-Peña, Iván Alonso-deMiguel, Montserrat Díez-Mediavilla and Cristina Alonso-Tristán
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David González-Peña: Research Group Solar and Wind Feasibility Technologies (SWIFT), Electromechanical Engineering Department, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Iván Alonso-deMiguel: Department of Physics, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Spain
Montserrat Díez-Mediavilla: Research Group Solar and Wind Feasibility Technologies (SWIFT), Electromechanical Engineering Department, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Cristina Alonso-Tristán: Research Group Solar and Wind Feasibility Technologies (SWIFT), Electromechanical Engineering Department, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: A new design for the use of photovoltaic and thermal (PV/T) technology with thermal storage is reported in this work. In the new design, a phase change material (PCM) tank is added to the backside of the photovoltaic panel. The advantages of this design are the storage of thermal energy and the efficiency improvement of the photovoltaic (PV) panel as a result of the temperature control of the PV cell during the phase change process. In addition, a perimeter with a black surface surrounds the PV panel to increase the absorption of thermal energy. The thermal energy is then transferred to the backside of the PCM tank by heat pipes. One prototype with lauric acid as PCM was tested under two different operating configurations and resulted in an overall daily efficiency of 50% coulding be improve by controlling the PCM temperature during the day.

Keywords: hybrid solar system; PV/T; PCM; heat pipe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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