Investigation of the operational performance and efficiency of an alternative PV + PCM concept

The significance of the temperature effect on the performance of photovoltaics (PVs) has implied the necessity to develop PV cooling methods in recent years. In this research, the inclusion of phase change materials (PCMs) through an alternative type of enclosure in tubular shape was proposed and investigated as an option of mitigating the PV operating temperature to enhance their efficiency and lifetime. Two PVs incorporating different PCMs (PV + PCM systems) and a conventional PV module (reference case) were experimentally tested to assess their energy performance under the Mediterranean conditions in Chania, Crete. As PCMs employed were selected Paraffins RT 27 and RT 31. The results indicated that a peak temperature decrement of 6.4 °C and 7.5 °C could be observed by using 260 g of PCM27 and PCM31, respectively. Hence, PV + PCM27 and PV + PCM31 systems exhibited increased energy generation by 4.19% and 4.24%, respectively, while the increment in the PV conversion efficiency by PCM integration ranged from 2.86 to 4.19%. The proposed configuration of PCM enclosures took advantage of the synergistic effect of wind, as demonstrated by the recorded daily temperature profiles of the PV + PCM27 and PV + PCM31 systems, even after the time of complete PCMs' melting.