The thermal impact of the fin tilt angle and its orientation on performance of PV cell using PCM

The thermal impact of the fin tilt angle and its orientation on performance of PV cell using PCM

Mohamed L. BenlekkamDriss Nehari Habib I. Madani 

Laboratory of Smart Structure, Institute of Science and Technology, Centre University of Ain Temouchent, Ain Temouchent 46000, Algeria

Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Polytechnic School of Oran, Oran 31000, Algeria

Corresponding Author Email: 
benlekkam.mohamed@yahoo.com
Page: 
919-926
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.18280/ijht.360319
Received: 
20 November 2017
| |
Accepted: 
31 August 2018
| | Citation

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

The temperature rises of photovoltaic's cells (PV) affects its conversion efficiency. However the use of phase change material (PCM) "RT25" layer with horizontal inner fins linked to PV panel can maintain its temperature. A numerical study of a novel proposed configuration is performed; aiming to understand the effect of fins tilt angle and its orientation on thermal regulation enhancement of PV cells. The computations are based on an iterative, finite-volume numerical procedure that incorporates an enthalpy formulation for simulation of the phase change phenomenon. The comparison between the numerical predictions and numerical and experimental data from literature shows a good agreement.  This study is also carried out for various tilt angles in the range of 0° to 45° in an interval of 5° and orientation of internal fins converged or diverged. Results indicate that the fins tilt angle (α=25°) can maintain the PV cell efficiency at 14% with an average temperature of 34,5°C for 3 hours, compared with PV/PCM system with horizontal fins (α=0°) which its efficiency decrease to 12.5% from its maximal value (15%) with an average temperature of 38°C.

Keywords: 

phase change material, latent heat, thermal regulation, photovoltaic cell, PV cooling

1. Introduction
2. Description of the Problem
3. Governing Equations
4. Numerical Modeling
5. Results and Discussion
6. Conclusion
Acknowledgements

The authors address the sincerest thanks to the directorate general for scientific research and technological development for its financial support under the FNRSDT/DGRSDT within the framework of ERANETMED3 (Project ERANETMED3-166 EXTRASEA).

Nomenclature
  References

[1]  Emery KB, Caiyem J, Dunlavy Y, Field D, Kroposki H, Moriarty B, Ottoson T, Rummel L, Strand S. (1996). Temperature dependence of photovoltaic cells, modules and systems. The 25th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. Washington, DC, USA. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.1996.564365

[2]  Norton B, Eames PC, Mallick TK, Huang MJ, McCormack SJ, Mondol JD, Yohanis YG. (2011). Enhancing the performance of building integrated photovoltaics. Solar Energy 85(8): 1629-1664. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2009.10.004 

[3]  Zheng Y. (2017). Study on phase change energy storage materials in building energy saving. Chemical Engineering Transactions 62: 523-528. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET1762088

[4]  Liu X. (2017) Preparation and application of multicomponent composite phase change materials in building energy conservation. Chemical Engineering Transactions 62: 529-534. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET1762088

[5]  Hachem F, Abdulhay B, Ramadan M, El Hage H, El Rab M G, Khaled M. (2017). Improving the performance of photovoltaic cells using pure and combined phase change materials–Experiments and transient energy balance. Renewable Energy 107: 567-575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.032

[6]  Khanna S, Reddy K, Mallick TK. (2017). Performance analysis of tilted photovoltaic system integrated with phase change material under varying operating conditions. Energy 133: 887-899. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.05.150 

[7]  Rok S, Stritih U. (2016). Increasing the efficiency of PV panel with the use of PCM. Renewable Energy 97: 671-679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.06.011 

[8]  Stritih U. (2016). Increasing the efficiency of PV panel with the use of PCM. Renewable Energy 97: 671-679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.06.011

[9]  Huang MJ. (2011). Two phase change material with different closed shape fins in building integrated photovoltaic system temperature regulation. Proceedings of the 2011 World Renewable Energy Congress, Sweden. Linköping, pp. 2938-2945. http://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110572938

[10]  Huang MJ, Eames P, Norton B. (2004). Thermal regulation of building-integrated photovoltaics using phase change materials. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 47(12): 2715-2733. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2003.11.015

[11]  Huang MJ, Eames P, Norton B. (2006). Phase change materials for limiting temperature rise in building integrated photovoltaics. Solar Energy 80(9): 1121-1130. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2005.10.006

[12]  Huang MJ, Eames PC, Norton B, Hewitt NJ. (2011). Natural convection in an internally finned phase change material heat sink for the thermal management of photovoltaics. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 95(7): 1598-1603. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2011.01.008

[13]  Huang MJ, Eames PC, Norton B, Hewitt NJ. (2008). The effect of phase change material crystalline segregation on the building integrated photovoltaic system thermal performance. Proceedings of the 2008 World Renewable Energy Congress, pp. 1338-1343. 

[14]  Huang MJ. (2011). The effect of using two PCMs on the thermal regulation performance of BIPV systems. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 95(3): 957-963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2010.11.032

[15]  Cellura M, Brano VL, Marvuglia A. (2008). A Photovoltaic panel coupled with a phase changing material heat storage system in hot climates. 25th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. 

[16]  Hasan A, McCormack SJ, Huang MJ, Norton B. (2010). Evaluation of phase change materials for thermal regulation enhancement of building integrated photovoltaics. Solar Energy 84(9): 1601-1612. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2010.06.010

[17]  Kant K, Shukla A, Sharma A, Biwole PH. (2016). Heat transfer studies of photovoltaic panel coupled with phase change material. Solar Energy 140: 151-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.11.006

[18]  Elarga H, Goia F, Zarrella A, Dal Monte A, Benini E. (2016). Thermal and electrical performance of an integrated PV-PCM system in double skin façades: A numerical study. Solar Energy 136: 112-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.06.074

[19]  Savvakis N, Tsoutsos T. (2016). Phase change materials in photovoltaics: The assessment of system performance in the present Mediterranean climate conditions. In book: Power Systems, Energy Markets and Renewable Energy Sources in South-Eastern Europe 3: 219-234. https://doi.org/10.22618/TP.EI.20163.389019

[20]  Rubitherm® Technologies GmbH, RUBITHERM data sheet (2000). RUBITHERM GmbH, Hamburg, Germany.

[21]  Hale DV, Hoover MJ, O’Neil MJ. (1975). Phase Change Materials Handbook. NASA CR 61363.

[22]  Rohsenow WM, Hartnett JP, Cho YI. (1998). Handbook of Heat Transfer. third ed. New York.

[23]  Skoplaki E, Boudouvis A, Palyvos J. (2008). A simple correlation for the operating temperature of photovoltaic modules of arbitrary mounting. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 92(11): 1393-1402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2008.05.016

[24]  Evans D, Florschuetz L. (1977). Cost studies on terrestrial photovoltaic power systems with sunlight concentration. Solar Energy 19(3): 255-262. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(77)90068-8

[25]  Chow TT. (2003). Performance analysis of photovoltaic-thermal collector by explicit dynamic model. Solar Energy 75: 143–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2003.07.001

[26]  Tiwari A, Sodha MS. (2006b). Performance evaluation of a solar PV/T system: A parametric study. Renewable Energy 31: 2460–2474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2005.12.002

[27]  Tonui JK, Tripanagnostopoulos Y. (2007a). Improved PV/T solar collectors with heat extraction by forced or natural air circulation. Renewable Energy 32: 623–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2006.03.006

[28]  Chow T. (2003). Performance analysis of photovoltaic-thermal collector by explicit dynamic model. Solar Energy 75(2): 143-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2003.07.001

[29]  Patankar S. (1980). Handbook on Numerical heat transfer and fluid flow. USA. Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

[30]  Benlekkam M, Nehari D, Madani HI. (2017). Enhancement of the Thermal Regulation Performance of a Curved PV Panel. International Journal of Renewable Energy Research 7(2): 707-714.