Energy and Cost Saving of a Photovoltaic-Phase Change Materials (PV-PCM) System through Temperature Regulation and Performance Enhancement of Photovoltaics
1
College of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
2
Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
3
Centre for Sustainable Technologies, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey BT370QB, UK
4
Dublin Energy Lab., Focas Institute, School of Physics, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St., Dublin 8, Ireland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2014, 7(3), 1318-1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/en7031318
Received: 22 October 2013 / Revised: 17 February 2014 / Accepted: 19 February 2014 / Published: 5 March 2014
The current research seeks to maintain high photovoltaic (PV) efficiency and increased operating PV life by maintaining them at a lower temperature. Solid-liquid phase change materials (PCM) are integrated into PV panels to absorb excess heat by latent heat absorption mechanism and regulate PV temperature. Electrical and thermal energy efficiency analysis of PV-PCM systems is conducted to evaluate their effectiveness in two different climates. Finally costs incurred due to inclusion of PCM into PV system and the resulting benefits are discussed in this paper. The results show that such systems are financially viable in higher temperature and higher solar radiation environment.
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Keywords:
phase change materials; photovoltaics; energy savings; cost saving; temperature regulation; performance enhancement
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MDPI and ACS Style
Hasan, A.; McCormack, S.J.; Huang, M.J.; Norton, B. Energy and Cost Saving of a Photovoltaic-Phase Change Materials (PV-PCM) System through Temperature Regulation and Performance Enhancement of Photovoltaics. Energies 2014, 7, 1318-1331.
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