By examining hybrid cooling techniques that combine phase change materials (PCM) with thermoelectric generators (TEG) and photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) systems, this study seeks to increase the electrical efficiency of PV panels.
Using information from the body of literature on the relative efficiency gains of different cooling methods, a theoretical parametric study was carried out. To assess the effects on energy production, cost savings, and CO2 emission reductions, this data was applied to a domestic home case study. The consumption ratio (R), which shows the percentage of a household’s energy needs that are satisfied by solar energy, was taken into account in the analysis.
With average yearly values of 7,419.13 × R kWh for energy generation, $2,670.88 × R in cost savings and a decrease of 4,052.33 × R kg in CO2 emissions, the integration of PCM with PV/T systems (PV/T-PCM) produced the best results. The PV-TEG-PCM system came next, with respective outputs of 7,045.43 × R kWh, $2,536.35 × R, and 3,848.21 × R kg. With corresponding figures of 6,946.50 × R kWh, $2,500.74 × R, and 3,794.18 × R kg, the PV-PCM system demonstrated the least amount of improvement.
The current study is a parametric theoretical study based on percentage enhancement due to PV cooling retrieved from the literature.
According to these results, adding PCM to PV/T systems greatly improves PV panel performance, which has major positive effects on the environment, economy and energy use.
This paper provides a thorough investigation of the combined effects of PCM, TEG and PV/T systems on PV panel efficiency and related advantages by combining them in a novel way within a theoretical framework.
