Improving photovoltaic efficiency and financial performance through hybrid PCM cooling with nanoparticles and fins

This work examines the thermal behavior of a photovoltaic panel equipped with a paraffin-based cooling system. To boost heat removal, the paraffin is augmented with internal fins and Cu nanoparticles, forming a hybrid approach to thermal management. The transient thermal behavior is simulated with an implicit time-stepping scheme to ensure accurate prediction of temperature variations over time. In addition to analyzing thermal efficiency, the research evaluates the system’s environmental and economic implications, including estimates of CO 2 emission reductions and profitability over a 12-year operational period under varying conditions. The results show that incorporating nanoparticles significantly improves both heat transfer efficiency and financial returns. For instance, the system's profitability increases by 1.64% after 10 minutes of operation and reaches a 2.75% gain at 90 minutes. However, over prolonged operation, profitability declines—dropping by 2.7% when fins are not used and by a notable 27.5% when fins are included. Environmentally, the system benefits from nanoparticle enhancement, achieving approximately a 1.27% improvement in carbon dioxide mitigation after 90 minutes.