Researchers in Sweden have developed a brand new PVT module utilizing an aluminum alloy construction between the thermal absorber and the photovoltac cells. This structure reportedly reduces thermal enlargement by 20%, thus rising the probabilities of mitigating cracks within the PV unit.
February 28, 2024
A world analysis group has proposed a novel photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module design that purportedly reduces considerably the dangers of cracking within the panel’s PV unit.
“A essential concern for PVT collectors is cell cracking, primarily brought on by thermal enlargement through the warmth switch course of between PV cells and the thermal absorber,” the group defined. “As a result of excessive temperatures, these expansions and contractions create small silicon cell flaws, which can lead to quite a few micro fractures/cracks. These cracks might trigger the disconnection of cell components, leading to a discount within the general energy generated by the PV modules.”
The scientists constructed a PVT module construction based mostly on an aluminum alloy construction with an H-shaped sample between the thermal absorber and the cells. Utilizing the ANSYS software program, they assembled a prototype based mostly on a commercially obtainable 44.2 W PVT module.
The brand new collector design was made up of the next elements, from high to backside: a clear glass cowl, a high ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) layer, a PV panel fabricated from monocrystalline silicon cells linked in collection, a backside EVA layer, an H-pattern plate for thermal enlargement, a thermal absorber that transfers warmth to the warmth switch fluid, and an insulation layer.
“One of many principal objectives of this design was to permit thermal enlargement in all instructions (by increasing into its cavities), thus making a smaller whole enlargement in any single course, which in flip was anticipated to decrease the chance of cell cracking drastically,” defined the lecturers.
The analysis group simulated the H-shaped aluminum alloy sample to have seven completely different widths, from one mm to seven mm, along with a plate design with out the construction. “It’s evident that the directional enlargement values are decrease for H-pattern enlargement cavity dimensions of 1, 2, 3, and 4 mm in comparison with the plate with no cavity (0 mm),” they defined. “Past 4 mm, a notable improve in enlargement is noticed for the H-pattern plate with a 5 mm cavity dimension. Moreover, the enlargement values for cavity dimensions of 6 and seven mm are barely lower than 5 mm, however all surpass the H-pattern plate with no cavity.”
Total, the simulation discovered the optimum design to be the one with 2 mm H dimensions, because it exhibited the bottom directional enlargement of about 0.011 mm. In comparison with a simulation of a reference PVT, which was the identical commercially obtainable module however with out the Hs, the novel one diminished thermal enlargement by 20%.
In keeping with the researchers, the novel design reached a ten% improve in thermal effectivity. Electrical effectivity was elevated by 2%, and general effectivity elevated by 8%. “This examine supplies worthwhile insights into PVT collector design, providing a promising answer to the problem of cell cracking,” the scientists concluded.
The novel module design was offered within the examine “Mitigating PV cell cracking in photo voltaic photovoltaic thermal collectors with a novel H-pattern absorber design,” revealed in Utilized Thermal Engineering. The analysis group was shaped by scientists from the UK’s Kingston College and Cranfield College and Sweeden’s MG Sustainable Engineering and College of Gavle.
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