Publication: Beeswax as phase change material to improve solar panel's performance
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Date
2018
Authors
Thaib R.
Rizal S.
Riza M.
Mahlia T.M.I.
Rizal T.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Physics Publishing
Abstract
One of the main obstacles faced during the operation of photovoltaic (PV) panels was overheating due to excessive solar radiation and high ambient temperatures. In this research, investigates the use of beeswax phase change materials (PCM) to maintain the temperature of the panels close to ambient. Solar panels used in this study has 839 mm length, 537 mm wide, and 50 mm thick, with maximum output power at 50 W. During the study, there were two solar panels was evaluated, one without phase change material while the other one was using beeswax phase change material. Solar panels were mounted at 15� slope. Variables observed was the temperature of solar panel's surface, output voltage and current that produced by PV panels, wind speed around solar panels, and solar radiation. The observation was started at 07:00 am and ended at 06:00 pm. The research shows that maximum temperature of solar panels surface without phase change material is ranging between 46-49 �C, and electrical efficiency is about 7.2-8.8%. Meanwhile, for solar panels with beeswax phase change material, the maximum temperature solar panels surface is relatively low ranging between 33-34 �C, and its electrical efficiency seems to increase about 9.1-9.3%. � 2018 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.
Description
Efficiency; Food products; Numerical analysis; Photovoltaic cells; Solar cell arrays; Solar concentrators; Solar power generation; Solar radiation; Waxes; Wind; Electrical efficiency; Maximum output power; Maximum temperature; Output voltages; Photovoltaic panels; PV panel; Solar panels; Wind speed; Phase change materials