PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF PV DEVICES THROUGH COOLING USING PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS IN OUTDOOR CLIMATES OF IRELAND AND PAKISTAN

摘要

Increased operating temperature adversely affects photovoltaic performance resulting in reduced power output along with accelerated semiconductor degradation and cell delamination leading to decreased PV life. A novel technique has been developed to keep PV at lower temperatures using solid-liquid phase change materials (PCM) to maximize PV power output and increase their lifetime. Integrated photovoltaic-phase change materials (PV-PCM) systems using two different PCM, a eutectic mixture of capric acid-palmitic acid (PCM_1) and a salt hydrate CaCl_2.6H_2O (PCM_2) were characterized outdoors in Dublin (53.33 N, 6.25 W), Ireland and Vehari (30.03 N, 72.25 E), Pakistan. The results show that applying PCM reduced PV temperature and enhanced their power output. Both the PCM_1 and PCM_2 performed better in Pakistan producing peak temperature difference of 17°C and 21°C from reference in Pakistan and 7°C and 10°C in Ireland respectively. Results show that PCM_2 performed better than PCM_1 at both the locations. The reduced operating temperature led to both increased PV power and lifetime.