Singgih Dwi Prasetyo, Yuki Trisnoaji, Zainal Arifin, Aditya Rio Prabowo
Photovoltaic (PV) systems experience significant efficiency losses due to elevated surface temperatures under prolonged solar exposure, particularly in tropical environments. Integrating phase change materials (PCM) has emerged as a practical passive cooling approach to mitigate thermal degradation. However, the combined influence of PCM type and fin geometry on electrical and thermal efficiency remains underexplored. This study investigates the performance of PV–PCM systems using three types of PCMs—Paraffin–ZnO (nanoparticle-enhanced), Lauric Acid (organic), and Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate, Ca(NO3)2·4H2O (inorganic)—combined with two fin geometries (diamond and honeycomb), each designed in hollow and non-hollow configurations. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were conducted using ANSYS Fluent to analyze temperature distribution, PCM melting behavior, and efficiency characteristics. The model validation through MAPE (<10 %) and mesh independence tests confirmed high numerical accuracy. Results show that Paraffin–ZnO achieved the highest electrical efficiency of 12.62 % in the diamond fin without a cavity. In comparison, Ca(NO3)2·4H2O exhibited the best thermal efficiency of 11.01 % in the diamond fin with cavity. Lauric Acid demonstrated moderate but stable performance with an average electrical efficiency of 12.31 % and thermal efficiency of 7.04 %. ANOVA analysis revealed that PCM type significantly affects both electrical (F = 70.406, p < 0.05) and thermal performance (F = 37,823.39, p < 0.05), whereas fin geometry showed no statistically significant influence. These findings highlight the critical role of PCM material selection in achieving optimal PV–PCM performance and demonstrate that simple fin geometries combined with high–latent heat PCMs can provide cost-effective, scalable, and energy-efficient cooling solutions for PV applications in hot climates. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Power Plant Engineering Technology, State University of Malang, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, 57126, Indonesia
