Performance and economic analysis of photovoltaic/thermal systems with phase change materials and a parallel serpentine design in dusty conditions

In photovoltaic technology, the energy conversion efficiency could be better, which is exacerbated by overheating the modules. Several climatic variables might affect photovoltaic conversion efficiency, including sun radiation, temperature, humidity, and wind speed. In addition, photovoltaic panels are susceptible to dust accumulation and temperature variations. Conventional photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems can reduce surface temperatures and alleviate overheating, but those water-based PV/T systems have a significant shortcoming when operating during the day. This study aims to evaluate experimentally the performance of phase change material (PCM) integrated with various water flow systems in a newly developed parallel serpentine flow PV/T system with a dusty module. In this context, this study developed a PV/T-PCM module and a PV/T-PCM-Dust module to compare their performances. The results show that the maximum electrical and average thermal efficiency for the PV/T-PCM and PV/T-PCM-Dust modules were 17.52 %, 14.83 %, 79.93 %, and 73 %, respectively. Consequently, thermal energy storage units in PV/T systems as an intermediate energy storage medium offer a promising solution to this problem by storing large amounts of heat and dissipating it when required. The integration of PCM technology not only enhances electrical and thermal performance but also extends the lifespan of the PV system, further increasing its economic viability. The economic analysis suggests that the PV/T-PCM system has the potential to revolutionize the renewable energy industry and pave the way for a more sustainable future.