Increase of power generation from solar cell module by controlling its module temperature with phase change material

In this study, performance of a 250 Wp (watt peak) polycrystalline solar cell module was tested by controlling the module temperature with 50 mm thickness Rubitherm RT42 phase change material (PCM) attached at the back of the solar cell module. Solar energy absorbed by the module as heat was transferred to the PCM which was melted when the temperature was higher than its melting point thus the module temperature was reduced and the generated power was increased than that from the normal unit. The enthalpy method was also used to estimate the PCM and the solar cell module temperatures. The generated electrical power from the solar cell module could be evaluated with the module temperature, the solar radiation incidence on the solar cell module and the ambient temperature. It could be found that the simulated results agreed quite well with the experimental data. Under the weather data of Chiang Mai, Thailand for the unit with the PCM, the maximum solar cell module temperature could be decreased from around 73 °C to be 64 °C and the annual average generated electrical energy could be increased 4.3 % compared to that without the PCM.