Numerical Investigation of Nano-Enhanced Paraffin Combined with Porous Foam for Efficiency Enhancement of Photovoltaic Panels

High operating temperatures are a major limitation for photovoltaic (PV) systems, as they reduce electrical efficiency and long-term reliability.Effective thermal regulation is therefore essential to maintain stable performance under strong solar irradiation.In this study, a numerical investigation is conducted to examine the thermal performance of a PV panel integrated with a paraffin-based cooling system positioned beneath the module.To improve the low thermal conductivity of paraffin, ternary nanoparticles together with metal foam are introduced into the phase change material (PCM).This hybrid enhancement significantly improves heat transfer, increases thermal diffusion, and accelerates the melting process.The transient melting behavior is modeled using the Galerkin finite element method, which ensures accurate prediction of temperature variation and phase change dynamics.The liquid fraction (LF) is increased by about 68.93%, indicating faster melting and improved energy absorption.In addition, the temperature distribution inside the PCM is enhanced by approximately 5.71%.Compared with a conventional uncooled PV system, the proposed configuration reduces the PV panel temperature (T PV ) by 8.53%, while increasing electrical efficiency by 17.16%.Overall, the study demonstrates that combining ternary nanoparticles with metal foam inside PCM provides a strong synergistic cooling effect.This integrated approach offers a more effective thermal management strategy than traditional single-enhancement methods, leading to improved PV performance, higher efficiency, and better thermal stability under real operating conditions.