IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v196y2022icp1392-1405.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy and exergy analysis of a switchable solar photovoltaic/thermal-phase change material system with thermal regulation strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Chenyu
  • Wang, Ning
  • Yang, Qiguo
  • Xu, Hongtao
  • Qu, Zhiguo
  • Fang, Yuan

Abstract

The overheated photovoltaic (PV) panels during the late experimental period and severe temperature stratification of the phase change materials (PCMs) are critical factors influencing the photovoltaic/thermal-PCM system efficiency. In this work, an outdoor experimental switchable PV/T-PCM system coupled with copper fins and flexible thermal regulation strategies was investigated to maximize the energy conversion efficiency. The effect of different fin heights on the efficiency of the PV-PCM system without water flow was firstly investigated. Second, five cases under various thermal regulation strategies utilizing water flow were comprehensively investigated by the energy and exergy analysis. For the full-time regulation, both thermal energy and exergy efficiencies (ηth and Ex_th) increased when the water flow rate grew from 0.11 L/min (Case 2) to 2.92 L/min (Case 5). Case 5 presented the highest ηth and Ex_th of 86.49% and 2.06%, respectively, and increments of 4.40% and 4.35% in the electrical energy and exergy efficiencies, respectively, with the addition of PCMs. At the same water flow rate of 0.11 L/min, the electrical energy and exergy efficiencies in Case 6 increased by 11.46% and 11.35%, compared with Case 2, indicating that the intermittent regulation is more beneficial for improving the photoelectric efficiency of the PV/T-PCM system.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:196:y:2022:i:c:p:1392-1405
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.07.081
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148122010837
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2022.07.081?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. Stropnik, Rok & Stritih, Uroš, 2016. "Increasing the efficiency of PV panel with the use of PCM," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 671-679.
    2. Sun, Qinrong & Zhang, Nan & Zhang, Haiquan & Yu, Xiaoping & Ding, Yulong & Yuan, Yanping, 2020. "Functional phase change composites with highly efficient electrical to thermal energy conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 2629-2636.
    3. Xiang, Bo & Cao, Xiaoling & Yuan, Yanping & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Zeng, Chao & Ji, Yasheng & Sun, Liangliang, 2018. "A novel hybrid energy system combined with solar-road and soil-regenerator: Sensitivity analysis and optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 419-430.
    4. Zhang, Chunxiao & Shen, Chao & Zhang, Yingbo & Sun, Cheng & Chwieduk, Dorota & Kalogirou, Soteris A., 2021. "Optimization of the electricity/heat production of a PV/T system based on spectral splitting with Ag nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 30-39.
    5. Wang, Huiru & Liu, Zhenyu & Wu, Huiying, 2017. "Entransy dissipation-based thermal resistance optimization of slab LHTES system with multiple PCMs arranged in a 2D array," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 739-751.
    6. Goel, Nipun & Taylor, Robert A. & Otanicar, Todd, 2020. "A review of nanofluid-based direct absorption solar collectors: Design considerations and experiments with hybrid PV/Thermal and direct steam generation collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 903-913.
    7. Abdo, Saber & Saidani-Scott, Hind & Benedi, Jorge & Abdelrahman, M.A., 2020. "Hydrogels beads for cooling solar panels: Experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 777-786.
    8. Yang, Xiaojiao & Sun, Liangliang & Yuan, Yanping & Zhao, Xudong & Cao, Xiaoling, 2018. "Experimental investigation on performance comparison of PV/T-PCM system and PV/T system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 152-159.
    9. 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.
    10. Gholampour, Maysam & Ameri, Mehran, 2016. "Energy and exergy analyses of Photovoltaic/Thermal flat transpired collectors: Experimental and theoretical study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 837-856.
    11. 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.
    12. Zhang, Chunwei & Yu, Meng & Fan, Yubin & Zhang, Xuejun & Zhao, Yang & Qiu, Limin, 2020. "Numerical study on heat transfer enhancement of PCM using three combined methods based on heat pipe," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    13. Jia, Yuting & Alva, Guruprasad & Fang, Guiyin, 2019. "Development and applications of photovoltaic–thermal systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 249-265.
    14. Hashem Zadeh, Seyed Mohsen & Mehryan, S.A.M. & Ghalambaz, Mohammad & Ghodrat, Maryam & Young, John & Chamkha, Ali, 2020. "Hybrid thermal performance enhancement of a circular latent heat storage system by utilizing partially filled copper foam and Cu/GO nano-additives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    15. Hossain, M.S. & Pandey, A.K. & Selvaraj, Jeyraj & Rahim, Nasrudin Abd & Islam, M.M. & Tyagi, V.V., 2019. "Two side serpentine flow based photovoltaic-thermal-phase change materials (PVT-PCM) system: Energy, exergy and economic analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 1320-1336.
    16. 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.
    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. 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).
    2. Reji Kumar, R. & Samykano, M. & Pandey, A.K. & Kadirgama, K. & Tyagi, V.V., 2020. "Phase change materials and nano-enhanced phase change materials for thermal energy storage in photovoltaic thermal systems: A futuristic approach and its technical challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    3. Kong, Xiangfei & Zhang, Lanlan & Li, Han & Wang, Yongzhen & Fan, Man, 2022. "Effect of solar energy concentrating and phase change cooling on energy and exergy performance improvement of photovoltaic/thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 1251-1263.
    4. 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).
    5. Cui, Yuanlong & Zhu, Jie & Zhang, Fan & Shao, Yiming & Xue, Yibing, 2022. "Current status and future development of hybrid PV/T system with PCM module: 4E (energy, exergy, economic and environmental) assessments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. 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).
    7. Kumar, Laveet & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A. & Islam, M.M., 2021. "Modeling, simulation and outdoor experimental performance analysis of a solar-assisted process heating system for industrial process heat," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 656-673.
    8. Rezvanpour, Mohammad & Borooghani, Danial & Torabi, Farschad & Pazoki, Maryam, 2020. "Using CaCl2·6H2O as a phase change material for thermo-regulation and enhancing photovoltaic panels’ conversion efficiency: Experimental study and TRNSYS validation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1907-1921.
    9. Yazdanifard, Farideh & Ameri, Mehran, 2018. "Exergetic advancement of photovoltaic/thermal systems (PV/T): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 529-553.
    10. Zhang, Chenyu & Wang, Ning & Xu, Hongtao & Fang, Yuan & Yang, Qiguo & Talkhoncheh, Fariborz Karimi, 2023. "Thermal management optimization of the photovoltaic cell by the phase change material combined with metal fins," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    11. Kazemian, Arash & Khatibi, Meysam & Reza Maadi, Seyed & Ma, Tao, 2021. "Performance optimization of a nanofluid-based photovoltaic thermal system integrated with nano-enhanced phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    12. Pang, Wei & Zhang, Qian & Cui, Yanan & Zhang, Linrui & Yu, Hongwen & Zhang, Xiaoyan & Zhang, Yongzhe & Yan, Hui, 2019. "Numerical simulation and experimental validation of a photovoltaic/thermal system based on a roll-bond aluminum collector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    13. Vittorini, Diego & Cipollone, Roberto, 2019. "Fin-cooled photovoltaic module modeling – Performances mapping and electric efficiency assessment under real operating conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 159-167.
    14. Islam, M.M. & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A. & Pandey, A.K. & Rawa, M. & Kumar, L., 2021. "Real time experimental performance investigation of a NePCM based photovoltaic thermal system: An energetic and exergetic approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 71-87.
    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. Tariq, Rasikh & Xamán, J. & Bassam, A. & Ricalde, Luis J. & Soberanis, M.A. Escalante, 2020. "Multidimensional assessment of a photovoltaic air collector integrated phase changing material considering Mexican climatic conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    17. Zheng, Xinyao & Zhou, Yuekuan, 2023. "A three-dimensional unsteady numerical model on a novel aerogel-based PV/T-PCM system with dynamic heat-transfer mechanism and solar energy harvesting analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    18. Vaziri Rad, Mohammad Amin & Kasaeian, Alibakhsh & Mousavi, Soroush & Rajaee, Fatemeh & Kouravand, Amir, 2021. "Empirical investigation of a photovoltaic-thermal system with phase change materials and aluminum shavings porous media," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 662-675.
    19. Fu, Zaiguo & Liang, Xiaotian & Li, Yang & Li, Lingtong & Zhu, Qunzhi, 2021. "Performance improvement of a PVT system using a multilayer structural heat exchanger with PCMs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 308-317.
    20. Hamada, Alaa & Emam, Mohamed & Refaey, H.A. & Moawed, M. & Abdelrahman, M.A., 2023. "Investigating the performance of a water-based PVT system using encapsulated PCM balls: An experimental study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).

    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:renene:v:196:y:2022:i:c:p:1392-1405. 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/renewable-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.