Results in Engineering (Dec 2022)
Optimizing the conception of hybrid PV/PCM by optimizing the heat transfer at the contact interface and by integrating two types of PCM
Abstract
The performance of solar systems is influenced by external environmental as weather, climates and irradiation, while for internal factors as conductivity, interfaces homogeneous and material, it can be improved by configuring the optimal characteristics of the solar system. Accurately, the thermal interfacial resistance in the different components of solar system influences significantly the transformation of solar energy into electricity and heat for the reason that heat transfer dropping between phase change material (PCM) and photovoltaic system. In this study, a novel engineering of a hybrid solar system that purposes to increase electrical energy in the photovoltaic (PV) system by absorbing heat has been proposed. The proposed system integrates two types of PCM in order to increase the thermal stability time, reduce the temperature variation and optimize the efficiency of thermal production. Moreover, the interface of contact has been improved and homogenized in order to optimize the heat exchange between the components of the systems which is increasing the evacuation of heat for the PCM that optimized the production of electricity and heat. Consequently, a systematic study evaluates the efficiency of the PV/PCM system in terms of electrical and thermal production has been proposed. Hence, the numerical study showed that there is a similarity between the results obtained and the previous results, and there is an obvious improvement after adding two types of PCM with different melting point compared to PV system with one type of PCM or without PCM. Electrical power output has been improved significantly that reaches 54.5% in the beginning of the day compared to PV without PCM and the electrical efficiency grows by about 34% compared to PV without PCM and can achieve 42.5% with two PCM. The absorbed heat can increase the production of thermal energy after optimizing the interface of contact that can be achieved about 52% compared to a system PV without PCM and the productivity can reach 63% with proposed system PV with two PCM.
