Simulation of effect of Nanoparticle dispersed PCM for Cooling of Photovoltaic Panels

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are commonly and widely employed source of renewable power generation. Nonetheless, they suffer from very inferior poor light to energy conversion efficiency. This drawback is aggravated further by 0.02% for every Kelvin rise in solar cell temperature. This paper presents a modelling work on PV cooling techniques through phase change material layer integration on rear PV surface. The PCM layer can absorb the excess heat generated in the panel. Making a composite of highly conductive nanomaterial and this PCM as a layer will boost the heat transfer and maintain PV temperatures close to optimum. Vaseline (Petrolatum or soft paraffin) was selected as the PCM due to easy availability. Graphene nanomaterial was the thermal conductivity enhancer. The cooling effect of the PCM nanocomposite was tested at three different front surface temperature. It was found that addition of PCM layer brings the cooling effect at PV front. This effect further enhances on the addition of PCM nanocomposite layer.

Keywords

• solar
• phase change materials
• nanoparticles
• cooling
• temperature