Self-cleaning assisted photovoltaic system with thermal energy storage: Design and performance evaluation

This study experimentally investigates the potency of the designed and developed a photovoltaic thermal energy storage with self-cleaning (SC) sub-systems in improving the electrical efficiency of a solar photovoltaic system with thermal energy storage (PV-TES). The photovoltaic system with thermal energy storage (PV-TES) absorber is called double serpentine-flow channel, wherein phase change materials (PCM) thermal storage system has been integrated for better temperature control. An automatic self-cleaning system has been mounted on PV glass cover to clean the dust and ensure higher absorption of incident solar energy. The performance of self-cleaning assisted photovoltaic system with thermal energy storage (PV-TES-SC) has been studied under varied flow rate of 0.5 to 4 L per minute (LPM). Results shows that the PV-TES-SC attained a maximum thermal efficiency of 77.60% at a mass flow rate of 2 LPM. Else ways, the average maximum electrical efficiency of 11.91% was found at a mass flow rate of 4 LPM, whereas a PV alone system could deliver only 9.89% electrical efficiency. From the experimental results it can be confirmed that the PV-TES-SC system is efficient than a PV alone as a result of the newly introduced PCM thermal energy storage and self-cleaning system. © 2020 International Solar Energy Society