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Computational analysis of phase change material and fins effects on enhancing PV/T panel performance

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Abstract

Hybrid Photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) collectors have assumed considerable importance for their dual-energy applicability, which is presented in thermal and electrical form. When the main objective of the PV/T collector is to produce electricity, the thermal behavior of the hybrid collector plays an ameliorative role in dissipating the heat generated in the cell, and this increases the electrical efficiency accordingly. We studied the influence of temperature on the electrical behavior of the PV cell, with and without forced convection cooling. Three configurations were studied in the presence of cooling: A hybrid collector with air channel under the plate, hybrid collector with a finned channel, and hybrid collector with Phase change material (PCM) incorporated between the fins. Several parameters—temperature of the cell, electrical efficiency, average Nusselt number and air temperature at the outlet of the channel—were studied. The results confirm the ameliorative effect of forced convection cooling, with and without fins, as well as the important improvement in cooling due to the presence of the PCM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanics, ETAP Laboratory, University of Tlemcen, FT, BP 230, 13000, Tlemcen, Algeria

    Reteri Ahmed & Korti Abdel Illah Nabil

Authors
  1. Reteri Ahmed
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  2. Korti Abdel Illah Nabil
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Correspondence to Reteri Ahmed.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Jae Dong Chung

Reteri Ahmed is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Tlemcen University - Algeria. He holds a Licence degree (2011) and Master’s (2013) in Mechanical Engineering from University of Tlemcen.

Korti Abdel Illah Nabil received his Ph.D. in Energetic Mechanics at Tlemcen University, in 2008. He is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Tlemcen University. He is currently a Researcher with Energy and Applied Thermal Laboratory (ETAP), Tlemcen University and is the Chief of Doctoral formation (LMD) Energy and Applied Thermal ETAP.

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Ahmed, R., Nabil, K.A.I. Computational analysis of phase change material and fins effects on enhancing PV/T panel performance. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 3083–3090 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0552-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0552-z

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