Thermal Analysis of a Solar Wall Equipped with Photovoltaic Cells and Phase-Change Materials

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Masters student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sistan and Baluchestan University, Iran

2 Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory of Renewable Energies and Electromagnetic Fluids, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

Abstract

In this paper, the thermal analysis of a solar wall system equipped with photovoltaic cells and phase-change materials has been numerically investigated. For the thermal modeling of the system, the energy balance for its various components, including photovoltaic cells, air channel, absorber plate, phase-change material, and room are written. The validation of the numerical results is consistent with the experimental data of previous studies. In parametric studies, the effect of phase-change material thickness, inlet air flow rate, collector width, and packing factor have been investigated on the room temperature and system average energy efficiency in four consecutive days. Results show that the optimal phase-change material thickness is 0.05 m. Increasing the phase-change material thickness reduces the room temperature and energy efficiency. Increasing the airflow rate decreases the photovoltaic cell temperature and increases electrical efficiency, thereby increasing energy efficiency. However, it reduces room temperature. Therefore, the optimum flow rate of air was obtained at 0.04 kg/s. Increasing the collector width, despite increasing room temperature, reduces energy efficiency, so the optimum collector width was 0.7 m. The increase of the packing factor increases room temperature and reduces energy efficiency. Therefore, the optimum packing factor was 0.5.

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References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 53, Issue 1
April 2021
Pages 173-190

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