Thermal enhancement of photovoltaic modules using a multi-container phase change material heat sink: Experimental and numerical investigation

Abstract

Thermal management is essential for improving the efficiency and service life of photovoltaic systems. This study experimentally and numerically investigates a photovoltaic module cooled using an array of aluminum containers filled with lauric acid, an organic phase change material, under transient conditions. The phase change material system reduced the module temperature by up to 10.3 °C, with an average reduction of 8.2 °C, while promoting a more uniform temperature distribution. Over 48 hours, cumulative electricity generation increased by 9.71% compared with an uncooled reference module, corresponding to a net gain of 73.16 Wh. The numerical model closely reproduced the experimental transient response, yielding a mean absolute error of approximately 1.10 °C and a coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) value of 0.975. These results show that integrating phase change material with a suitably designed container array can effectively reduce photovoltaic operating temperatures and improve electrical output.