Effect of composite phase-change materials on improving the efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels

Electrical energy is derived from sunlilght using solar photo-voltaic (PV) panels. The temperature of the solar cells rises as an effect of solar radiation. The power generation and energy efficiency of the solar PV panel declines as its temperature rises. To keep photovoltaics working at low temperatures, various strategies are used. The phase-change materials' (PCMs) usage for regulating temperature of PV modules has aroused the interest of numerous academicians in recent years. In this study, a novel PCM comprising of PEP (Paraffin jelly - Expanded Perlite) was fabricated and utilized for cooling solar PV panel because of its good latent heat of fusion and shape stability. The PV reference panel without PCM, and the PV panel attached with PEP-PCM were experimentally investigated for voltage, current, thermal performance, power output and efficiency. A utmost temperature lowering of 25 % was attained by the PCM based PV panel compared to the reference PV panel. Conclusively PV panel systems with PEP-PCM had higher output power and efficiency compared to standard solar PV panels.