Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaics by Phase Change Materials through Thermal Energy Recovery
Photovoltaic (PV) panels convert a certain amount of incident solar radiation into electricity, while the rest is converted to heat, leading to a temperature rise in the PV. This elevated temperature deteriorates the power output and induces structural degradation, resulting in reduced PV lifespan....
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/10/782 |
| _version_ | 1828276452972298240 |
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| author | Ahmad Hasan Hamza Alnoman Ali Hasan Shah |
| author_facet | Ahmad Hasan Hamza Alnoman Ali Hasan Shah |
| author_sort | Ahmad Hasan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photovoltaic (PV) panels convert a certain amount of incident solar radiation into electricity, while the rest is converted to heat, leading to a temperature rise in the PV. This elevated temperature deteriorates the power output and induces structural degradation, resulting in reduced PV lifespan. One potential solution entails PV thermal management employing active and passive means. The traditional passive means are found to be largely ineffective, while active means are considered to be energy intensive. A passive thermal management system using phase change materials (PCMs) can effectively limit PV temperature rises. The PCM-based approach however is cost inefficient unless the stored thermal energy is recovered effectively. The current article investigates a way to utilize the thermal energy stored in the PCM behind the PV for domestic water heating applications. The system is evaluated in the winter conditions of UAE to deliver heat during water heating demand periods. The proposed system achieved a ~1.3% increase in PV electrical conversion efficiency, along with the recovery of ~41% of the thermal energy compared to the incident solar radiation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:57:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-850beac9610244b2a1c7d4203ef8918b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:57:48Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-850beac9610244b2a1c7d4203ef8918b2022-12-22T02:57:11ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732016-09-0191078210.3390/en9100782en9100782Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaics by Phase Change Materials through Thermal Energy RecoveryAhmad Hasan0Hamza Alnoman1Ali Hasan Shah2College of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAECollege of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAECollege of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAEPhotovoltaic (PV) panels convert a certain amount of incident solar radiation into electricity, while the rest is converted to heat, leading to a temperature rise in the PV. This elevated temperature deteriorates the power output and induces structural degradation, resulting in reduced PV lifespan. One potential solution entails PV thermal management employing active and passive means. The traditional passive means are found to be largely ineffective, while active means are considered to be energy intensive. A passive thermal management system using phase change materials (PCMs) can effectively limit PV temperature rises. The PCM-based approach however is cost inefficient unless the stored thermal energy is recovered effectively. The current article investigates a way to utilize the thermal energy stored in the PCM behind the PV for domestic water heating applications. The system is evaluated in the winter conditions of UAE to deliver heat during water heating demand periods. The proposed system achieved a ~1.3% increase in PV electrical conversion efficiency, along with the recovery of ~41% of the thermal energy compared to the incident solar radiation.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/10/782photovoltaics (PV)phase change material (PCM)thermal managementwater heatingenergy recovery |
| spellingShingle | Ahmad Hasan Hamza Alnoman Ali Hasan Shah Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaics by Phase Change Materials through Thermal Energy Recovery Energies photovoltaics (PV) phase change material (PCM) thermal management water heating energy recovery |
| title | Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaics by Phase Change Materials through Thermal Energy Recovery |
| title_full | Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaics by Phase Change Materials through Thermal Energy Recovery |
| title_fullStr | Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaics by Phase Change Materials through Thermal Energy Recovery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaics by Phase Change Materials through Thermal Energy Recovery |
| title_short | Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaics by Phase Change Materials through Thermal Energy Recovery |
| title_sort | energy efficiency enhancement of photovoltaics by phase change materials through thermal energy recovery |
| topic | photovoltaics (PV) phase change material (PCM) thermal management water heating energy recovery |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/10/782 |
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