The Effect of Inclination on the Passive cooling of the solar PV panel by using Phase change Material

Abstract

A two-dimensional (2D) numerical model was used to simulate the use of a phase change material and inner fins incorporated to a PV panel, in order to control the temperature rise of the PV cells at various inclination angles from 0 º to 90º  with respect to vertical at increments of 15°. The PCM (RT25) is placed in a cavity directly in contact with the PV panel. This cavity enclosed on both sides by aluminum layers, and contains extended surfaces (fins). This PV-PCM system is studied numerically using finite volume method.

The predicted temperatures have been compared with experimental and numerical data of the literature and a good agreement was obtained for both the isothermal contours and time evolution of the temperature.

The  bulk  of  the  PCM  melting  within  the  system  is  dominated  by  natural convection for angle inclination lower than 45 º.  In other hand, for the inclinations higher than 45º the heat transfer in conduction mode increases until at 90º, where natural convection disappears completely and the conduction manifests alone. The obtained results reveals that the temperature of the PV panel increases with the increase of the inclination and that small inclinations (lower than 45 º) allow for a better cooling of this panel.