Electrical Output Evaluation of a Concentrated Photovoltaic System Coupled with a Phase Change Material for Qatar Weather Conditions
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Date
2017-12-01
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Abstract
Solar energy is a renewable energy resource and presents a ripe opportunity to meet international goals of reducing fossil fuel use and combating global warming. However solar energy has yet to make large market proliferation, accounting only for 1% of total electricity generation around the world. Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV), which use concentrators to focus sunlight onto a smaller PV cell area, provide a way to increase electrical conversion efficiency while using less of the expensive PV cell material.
A disadvantage of using CPV systems is the increase in cell temperature due to concentration of sunlight, which leads to reduced electrical output. Phase change materials (PCM) can passively cool a CPV cell by absorbing heat through phase change, while maintaining a near constant temperature in the process, all while keeping the system relatively simple and modular. The objective of this thesis is the development of an integrated model that captures optical-electrical-thermal processes, to predict the power output and temperature profile of a Concentrator Photovoltaic-Phase Change Material (CPV-PCM) system. A case study using the model is made using Qatar weather conditions, to predict power output and temperature profile of a CPV-PCM system and compare with a flat-plate PV system. Results indicate the CPV-PCM system outperforming the PV system on power generation, although CPV system cell temperatures that are below PV system temperatures could only be achieved under 15x optical concentration ratio.
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CPV, PCM, CPV-PCM, Concentrator Photovoltaic, Phase Change Material, Solar, Solar energy