Evaluation of phase change materials for thermal regulation enhancement of building integrated photovoltaics

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 84; no. 9; pp. 1601 - 1612
• Main Authors: Hasan, A., McCormack, S.J., Huang, M.J., Norton, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2010; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building infrastructure; Building integrated photovoltaics; Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV); BUILDINGS; Control; EFFICIENCY; Energy; ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; Energy efficiency; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments, installations and applications; EVALUATION; Exact sciences and technology; FUSION HEAT; INSOLATION; Materials science; Melting; Natural energy; PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS; Phase change materials (PCM); PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; Photovoltaic conversion; Reduction; SOLAR ARCHITECTURE; Solar cells; SOLAR ENERGY; Temperature; TEMPERATURE CONTROL; TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE; THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY; Thermal regulation enhancement; Transport and storage of energy; CFD; PV; RT20; CL; Thermal regulation enhancement; CP; PV/T; Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV); BIPV; CaCl 2; DSC; Phase change materials (PCM); PCM; SP22; Performance evaluation; Temperature regulation; Building integrated photovoltaics; Material selection; Thermal conductivity; PCM material; Heat of fusion
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2010.06.010

Regulating the temperature of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) using phase change materials (PCMs) reduces the loss of temperature dependent photovoltaic (PV) efficiency. Five PCMs were selected for evaluation all with melting temperatures ∼25
±
4
°C and heat of fusion between 140 and 213
kJ/kg. Experiments were conducted at three insolation intensities to evaluate the performance of each PCM in four different PV/PCM systems. The effect on thermal regulation of PV was determined by changing the (i) mass of PCM and (ii) thermal conductivities of the PCM and PV/PCM system. A maximum temperature reduction of 18
°C was achieved for 30
min while 10
°C temperature reduction was maintained for 5
h at −1000
W/m
2 insolation.