Enhancing finned-phase change material performance for improved solar photovoltaic panel efficiency

The rising popularity of solar energy through photovoltaic (PV) panels faces a critical challenge: high temperatures decrease efficiency. Innovative solutions are emerging, utilizing phase change materials (PCM) and cooling fins to enhance performance. This novel approach not only boosts energy output but also extends the lifespan of these vital systems. This study examines the performance of various complex fin shapes integrated into the PCM unit-enhanced PV panel, comparing them to a basic plate fin. The fin configurations analyzed include basic plate fins (BC), a tree-fin with double branches at 45° (C1), a tree-fin with double branches at 90° aligned with the thermal unit's middle (C2), and a tree-fin with double branches at 90°, featuring rounded corners and extended length beyond the unit center (C3). COMSOL Multiphysics software is used to conduct numerical simulations. The findings indicated that incorporating the proposed fins with PCM enhanced the melting rate of PCM and improved the PV efficiency. Among the four fin configurations studied, it was evident that the C1 fin configuration achieved the best performance compared to the other configurations. The melting time for C1 was improved by 17.1 %, and the PV efficiency was improved by 2.4 % compared to the base case.