Investigation on Thermal Absorptivity of PCM Matrix Material for Photovoltaic Module Temperature Reduction

Abstract:

Photovoltaic (PV) system experience challenges from module temperature (T_mod) increasing particularly due to stagnation of thermal energy (TE) on its surface. Efforts to reduce the T_mod is widely experimented in many ways, like incorporating latent heat storage material (PCM) with PV module to reduce the T_mod through radiation and convection heat transfer. This paper focuses on selecting of an effective thermal absorption material for the fabrication of PCM matrix and optimization of the critical spacing between the PV module and PCM matrix. The thermal absorptivity of Aluminum (Al) and Copper (Cu) were analyzed with and without coated absorber at different spacing conditions. It was observed that Al tube matrix with coated absorber was absorbed 3.0 °C more than copper at 6 mm distance from module. Hence further studies on the T_mod reduction will be effective with the use of Al as PCM matrix tube.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 777)
• Pages: 97-101
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.777.97
• Online since: August 2018
• Authors: Velmurugan Karthikeyan, Chatchai Sirisamphanwong*, Sukruedee Sukchai
• Keywords: Critical Spacing, Heat Transfer Network, PCM Matrix, Thermal Absorption

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