Optimizing PCM Mass in a Photovoltaic Thermal System

The focus of this study is to analyze an air-cooled double-pass photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system integrated with paraffin wax as a phase change material (PCM). The integration of Phase Change Material (PCM) is one of the most promising methods in PV/T thermal management. Paraffin wax PCM possesses a high latent heat of fusion, enabling it to absorb a significant amount of thermal energy at a relatively constant temperature during the solid-to-liquid phase transition process. The experiment was conducted over three days using three PCM mass variations (500 g, 1000 g, and 2000 g). To ensure an objective data comparison, measurements were adjusted to identical solar radiation intensities. The experimental setup comprised a PV module, 6 mm glass cover, air ducting, reflector/absorber plate, PCM container, type-K thermocouples, DHT22 sensors, a solar power meter, an anemometer, a Testo 405i, and a data logger. The experimental results recorded average air temperature differences T of 6.74°C (500 g PCM), 6.72°C (1000 g PCM), and 6.91°C (2000 g PCM). Increasing the amount of PCM resulted in a reduction in the average reflector temperature from 44.97°C to 43.45°C, demonstrating the critical role of PCM mass in dampening system heat spikes.