Natural convection in an internally finned phase change material heat sink for the thermal management of photovoltaics

M. J. Huang, P. C. Eames, B. Norton, N. J. Hewitt

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Elevated operating temperatures reduce the solar to electrical conversion efficiency of building integrated photovoltaic devices (BIPV). Phase change materials (PCM) can be used to passively limit this temperature rise although their effectiveness is limited by their low thermal conductivities and crystallisation segregation during solidification. This paper presents an experimental evaluation of the effects of convection and crystalline segregation in a PCM as a function of efficiency of heat transfer within the finned PV/PCM system. The thermal performances of bulk PCM with crystallisation segregation for different internal fin arrangements are presented. It is noted that the addition of internal fins improves the temperature control of the PV in a PV/PCM system.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1598-1603
    Number of pages6
    JournalSolar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
    Volume95
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2011

    Keywords

    • Building integrated photovoltaic
    • Convection
    • Phase change material

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