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Three-dimensional numerical analysis of performance of PV module integrated with PCM and internal pin fins of different shapes

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Abstract

Techniques must be used to improve the thermal conductivity of paraffin phase change materials (PCM) for augmenting the passive thermal management of PV. In this paper, transient three-dimensional numerical simulations of PV-PCM systems with square and circular cross-sectional fins have been carried out to analyse the effect of fins and inclination \(\left(\theta \right)\) on the performance. Finned PV-PCM systems with multiple fin numbers are considered. The parameters, such as the average temperature and efficiency of the module, are simulated and compared. Results show that the system with square fins gives better thermal regulation over cylindrical ones for all inclinations and fin numbers. The system with 16 square fins at \(\theta =45^\circ\) is found with minimum PV temperature and maximum efficiency. Maximum temperature reductions of 57.56 °C and 56.8 °C and efficiency enhancements of 43.47% and 42.89% are achieved for horizontal systems with 16 square and cylindrical fins, respectively, over PV alone system. The effect of fin length is also simulated, and the maximum PV temperature reductions of 56.8 °C and 45.96 °C are obtained for full-length configurations with inclinations of \(0^\circ\) and \(45^\circ ,\) respectively. The peak velocity of melted PCM is simulated, and a maximum peak velocity of 4.88 mm s−1 is obtained for the unfinned PV-PCM system with \(\theta =45^\circ .\)

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

EVA:

Ethylene-vinyl acetate

PV:

Photovoltaic

PV-PCM:

Photovoltaic-phase change material

A :

Upper surface of the PV panel (m2)

B :

Liquid fraction

\({c}_{\mathrm{p}}\) :

Heat capacity (J kg−1 K−1)

G :

Solar irradiation (W m−2)

g :

Acceleration due to gravity (m s−2)

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K−1)

k :

Thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

\({L}_{\mathrm{c}}\) :

Characteristic length (m)

\({L}_{\mathrm{h}}\) :

Latent heat (J kg−1)

P :

Pressure (Pa)

\({Q}_{\mathrm{g}}\) :

Heat generation per unit volume (W m−3)

Ra:

Rayleigh number

Re:

Reynolds number

T :

Temperature (\(^\circ{\rm C}\))

\({T}_{\mathrm{m}}\) :

Melting temperature (\(^\circ{\rm C}\))

\({t}_{\mathrm{si}}\) :

Silicon thickness (m)

t :

Time (s)

u :

x-component velocity (m s−1)

v :

y-component velocity (m s−1)

v w :

Wind velocity (m s−1)

w :

z-component velocity (m s−1)

\(\beta\) :

Volume expansion coefficient (K−1)

\(\Delta T\) :

Phase change zone (\(^\circ{\rm C}\))

\(\eta\) :

Efficiency (%)

\(\mu\) :

Dynamic viscosity (Pa s)

\(\nu\) :

Kinematic viscosity (m2 s−1)

\(\rho\) :

Density (kg m−3)

\(\theta\) :

Inclination angle (degree)

\({(\tau \alpha )}_{\mathrm{e}}\) :

Absorptivity–transmissivity product for glass cover of the PV

a :

Ambient

g :

Glass

l :

Liquid

pcm:

PCM

s :

Solid

si :

Silicon

x :

Along x

y :

Along y

z :

Along z

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CFD Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kozhikode, Kerala, 673601, India

    K. S. Unnikrishnan, Manyala Jayatej & B. Rohinikumar

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Contributions

UKS has contributed to the main conceptual idea, study design and full article writing. MJ helped in conducting simulations and article writing. RB has been involved in the technical discussions, supervising the whole work, checking the review connectivity and improving the write-up. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to B. Rohinikumar.

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Unnikrishnan, K.S., Jayatej, M. & Rohinikumar, B. Three-dimensional numerical analysis of performance of PV module integrated with PCM and internal pin fins of different shapes. J Therm Anal Calorim 148, 9739–9760 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12345-4

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