Experimental Analysis of Photovoltaic Thermal Systems Incorporating Phase Change Material and Serpentine Absorber

This study examines how a serpentine absorber design integrated with Phase Change Materials (PCM) performs within Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) systems, with the goal of assessing both thermal and electrical efficiency under different conditions. Comparing the performance of the PVT-PCM system with traditional PV systems that don't utilize PCM revealed notable improvements in efficiency. The PVT-PCM system recorded a peak electrical efficiency of 6.6% at an irradiation level of 800 W/m² and a mass flow rate of 90 L/h, representing a significant advancement over standard PV systems. The thermal efficiency saw an improvement, reaching a maximum of 69.7% at an irradiation level of 400 W/m² and a flow rate of 90 L/h. When considering both thermal and electrical efficiencies, the overall efficiency peaked at 75.8% under the same conditions. The study concludes that integrating serpentine absorbers and PCM in PVT systems can be used to optimize and improve the performance of solar energy output by 0.7% in term of electrical efficiency compared to conventional PV.