IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v314y2025ics0360544224039811.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of installing porous metal insertion inside the collector tube of a photovoltaic thermal system integrated with PCM-copper foam composite

Author

Listed:
  • Chang, Shuaibing
  • Liu, Haiting
  • Li, G.

Abstract

In comparison with traditional photovoltaic systems, photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems exhibit higher electrical efficiency while offering the versatility of harnessing solar thermal energy for various applications. This work presents a numerical method investigating the thermal, hydraulic, and electrical performances of a PVT system incorporating a porous collector and PCM-copper foam composite. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in thermal efficiency, with a 37.33 % increment observed when the receiver tube is embedded with PCM-copper foam. Despite an increase in pressure drop due to copper foam insertion, the electrical efficiency of the system also increases by 0.2 %. Furthermore, the utilization of copper foam in a PVT system integrated with PCM enhances thermal efficiency up to 33.6 %. Simulations reveal that a coolant mass flow rate of 40 kg h−1 yields higher thermal efficiency compared to rates of 20 and 30 kg h−1, with slight decrement in the electrical efficiency. Additionally, the paper discusses the performance of the proposed porous PCM-based PVT systems under different seasonal conditions, including temperature variations and solar irradiation levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Chang, Shuaibing & Liu, Haiting & Li, G., 2025. "Effect of installing porous metal insertion inside the collector tube of a photovoltaic thermal system integrated with PCM-copper foam composite," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224039811
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134203
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224039811
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.134203?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Essa, Mohamed A. & Talaat, M. & Amer, Abdalla & Farahat, M.A., 2021. "Enhancing the photovoltaic system efficiency using porous metallic media integrated with phase change material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    2. Liu, Huaqiang & Ahmad, Shakeel & Shi, Yu & Zhao, Jiyun, 2021. "A parametric study of a hybrid battery thermal management system that couples PCM/copper foam composite with helical liquid channel cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    3. Bozorg, Mehdi Vahabzadeh & Hossein Doranehgard, Mohammad & Hong, Kun & Xiong, Qingang, 2020. "CFD study of heat transfer and fluid flow in a parabolic trough solar receiver with internal annular porous structure and synthetic oil–Al2O3 nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 2598-2614.
    4. Kazemian, Arash & Salari, Ali & Hakkaki-Fard, Ali & Ma, Tao, 2019. "Numerical investigation and parametric analysis of a photovoltaic thermal system integrated with phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 734-746.
    5. Rahimi, Masoud & Azimi, Neda & Nouira, Meriem & Shahsavar, Amin, 2023. "Experimental study on photovoltaic panels integrated with metal matrix sheets and bio-based phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PA).
    6. Zouaoui, Ahlem & Zili-Ghedira, Leila & Ben Nasrallah, Sassi, 2016. "Open solid desiccant cooling air systems: A review and comparative study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 889-917.
    7. Milad Zeraatpisheh & Reza Arababadi & Mohsen Saffari Pour, 2018. "Economic Analysis for Residential Solar PV Systems Based on Different Demand Charge Tariffs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, November.
    8. Tian, Y. & Zhao, C.Y., 2011. "A numerical investigation of heat transfer in phase change materials (PCMs) embedded in porous metals," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 5539-5546.
    9. Hosseinzadeh, Mohammad & Sardarabadi, Mohammad & Passandideh-Fard, Mohammad, 2018. "Energy and exergy analysis of nanofluid based photovoltaic thermal system integrated with phase change material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 636-647.
    10. Liu, Zhenyu & Yao, Yuanpeng & Wu, Huiying, 2013. "Numerical modeling for solid–liquid phase change phenomena in porous media: Shell-and-tube type latent heat thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1222-1232.
    11. Qiu, Zhongzhu & Zhao, Xudong & Li, Peng & Zhang, Xingxing & Ali, Samira & Tan, Junyi, 2015. "Theoretical investigation of the energy performance of a novel MPCM (Microencapsulated Phase Change Material) slurry based PV/T module," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 686-698.
    12. Zhang, P. & Meng, Z.N. & Zhu, H. & Wang, Y.L. & Peng, S.P., 2017. "Melting heat transfer characteristics of a composite phase change material fabricated by paraffin and metal foam," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1971-1983.
    13. MD Shouquat Hossain & Laveet Kumar & Adeel Arshad & Jeyraj Selvaraj & A. K. Pandey & Nasrudin Abd Rahim, 2023. "A Comparative Investigation on Solar PVT- and PVT-PCM-Based Collector Constancy Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-26, February.
    14. Zhang, Chenyu & Wang, Ning & Yang, Qiguo & Xu, Hongtao & Qu, Zhiguo & Fang, Yuan, 2022. "Energy and exergy analysis of a switchable solar photovoltaic/thermal-phase change material system with thermal regulation strategies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1392-1405.
    15. Yazdanifard, Farideh & Ebrahimnia-Bajestan, Ehsan & Ameri, Mehran, 2016. "Investigating the performance of a water-based photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector in laminar and turbulent flow regime," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 295-306.
    16. Behnam Roshanzadeh & Levi Reyes Premer & Gowtham Mohan, 2022. "Developing an Advanced PVT System for Sustainable Domestic Hot Water Supply," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hamidi, E. & Ganesan, P.B. & Sharma, R.K. & Yong, K.W., 2023. "Computational study of heat transfer enhancement using porous foams with phase change materials: A comparative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Liu, Huaqiang & Ahmad, Shakeel & Shi, Yu & Zhao, Jiyun, 2021. "A parametric study of a hybrid battery thermal management system that couples PCM/copper foam composite with helical liquid channel cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    3. Liu, Yang & Zheng, Ruowei & Li, Ji, 2022. "High latent heat phase change materials (PCMs) with low melting temperature for thermal management and storage of electronic devices and power batteries: Critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Yang, Xiaohu & Feng, Shangsheng & Zhang, Qunli & Chai, Yue & Jin, Liwen & Lu, Tian Jian, 2017. "The role of porous metal foam on the unidirectional solidification of saturating fluid for cold storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 508-521.
    5. B, Prabhu & A, Valan Arasu & P, Gurusamy & A, Amala Mithin Minther Singh & T, Arunkumar, 2024. "Solar photovoltaic cooling using Paraffin phase change material: Comprehensive assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    6. Yu, Qinghua & Chen, Xi & Yang, Hongxing, 2021. "Research progress on utilization of phase change materials in photovoltaic/thermal systems: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    7. Yang, Qingyu & Yao, Hui & Yang, Yingying & Azaiez, Mejdi, 2024. "Effect of contact thermal resistance and skeleton thermodynamic properties on solid-liquid phase change heat transfer in porous media: A simulation study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    8. Zhang, Shuai & Feng, Daili & Shi, Lei & Wang, Li & Jin, Yingai & Tian, Limei & Li, Ziyuan & Wang, Guoyong & Zhao, Lei & Yan, Yuying, 2021. "A review of phase change heat transfer in shape-stabilized phase change materials (ss-PCMs) based on porous supports for thermal energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    9. Caliano, Martina & Bianco, Nicola & Graditi, Giorgio & Mongibello, Luigi, 2019. "Analysis of a phase change material-based unit and of an aluminum foam/phase change material composite-based unit for cold thermal energy storage by numerical simulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    10. Sardari, Pouyan Talebizadeh & Giddings, Donald & Grant, David & Gillott, Mark & Walker, Gavin S., 2020. "Discharge of a composite metal foam/phase change material to air heat exchanger for a domestic thermal storage unit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 987-1001.
    11. Mahdi, Jasim M. & Nsofor, Emmanuel C., 2017. "Melting enhancement in triplex-tube latent heat energy storage system using nanoparticles-metal foam combination," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 22-34.
    12. Gürbüz, Emine Yağız & Şahinkesen, İstemihan & Tuncer, Azim Doğuş & Keçebaş, Ali, 2023. "Design and experimental analysis of a parallel-flow photovoltaic-thermal air collector with finned latent heat thermal energy storage unit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    13. Duan, Juan, 2021. "The PCM-porous system used to cool the inclined PV panel," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 1315-1332.
    14. Kazemian, Arash & Hosseinzadeh, Mohammad & Sardarabadi, Mohammad & Passandideh-Fard, Mohammad, 2018. "Experimental study of using both ethylene glycol and phase change material as coolant in photovoltaic thermal systems (PVT) from energy, exergy and entropy generation viewpoints," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 210-223.
    15. Salari, Ali & Parcheforosh, Ali & Hakkaki-Fard, Ali & Amadeh, Ali, 2020. "A numerical study on a photovoltaic thermal system integrated with a thermoelectric generator module," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1261-1271.
    16. Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Yang, Chao & Xu, Yang & Cai, Xiao, 2021. "Effect of metal foam with two-dimensional porosity gradient on melting behavior in a rectangular cavity," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 802-815.
    17. Zhao, Dongliang & Tan, Gang, 2015. "Numerical analysis of a shell-and-tube latent heat storage unit with fins for air-conditioning application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 381-392.
    18. Khani, M.S. & Baneshi, M. & Eslami, M., 2019. "Bi-objective optimization of photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) solar collectors according to various weather conditions using genetic algorithm: A numerical modeling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    19. Kazemian, Arash & Khatibi, Meysam & Ma, Tao & Peng, Jinqing & Hongxing, Yang, 2023. "A thermal performance-enhancing strategy of photovoltaic thermal systems by applying surface area partially covered by solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    20. Shahsavar, Amin & Al-Rashed, Abdullah A.A.A. & Entezari, Sajad & Sardari, Pouyan Talebizadeh, 2019. "Melting and solidification characteristics of a double-pipe latent heat storage system with sinusoidal wavy channels embedded in a porous medium," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 751-769.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224039811. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.