Experimental investigation of improving the energy conversion efficiency of PV cell by integrating with PCM. (2021) - Senthil Kumar, K.
Abstract: A photovoltaic panel PV's electrical output is heavily dependent upon its temperature. The electrical efficiency decreases when the temperature of a PV increases. The use of PCM material for phase change is now one of the most promising tools for reducing and regulating PV panel temperature and increasing its electrical efficiency. The current research is based on experimental studies of the effect on the thermal behavior and electrical performance of a PV panel using COPPER (Cu), SILICON CARBIDE (Sic), PARAFFIN WAX (Petroleum wax). A suitable testing setup was devised to proceed and the designs had to be designed and evaluated. A transient energy balance is also pre-sent for evaluating the thermal activity of the device and correlating it with the electrical outputs. A suitable experimental setup was devised and three prototypes were built and tested to proceed. Prototype 1 consists of a platform, a photovoltaic panel and an electrical circuit with a given charge. Prototypes 2 are designed with a container added on each PV panel's rear face which holds a combined PCM. It was shown that when using standard, the electrical output of PV panels was increased by an average of 2.8 percent and when using combined PCM by an average of 4.3 percent. These improvements as well as the corresponding behaviors were shown by a transitory energy balance approach.