Experimental study on photovoltaic/thermal system performance based on microencapsulated phase change material slurry

Microencapsulated phase change material slurry (MPCMS) as working fluid has a certain potential to enhance the PV/T system capability. An experimental study was carried out to explore the impacts of water flux (0–0.0085 kg/s) and MPCMS mass concentration (0–5%) on electrical properties and thermal properties of the PV/T system by using a halogen tungsten lamp to simulate solar radiation. The results reveal that as the water flux is from 0.0024 kg/s to 0.0085 kg/s, the PV plate temperature decreases by 3.61°C, and the electrical efficiency increases by 0.3%. The electrical efficiency increases by 4.92% for every 0.1 kg/s increment in the cooling water flux. The best thermal efficiency and primary-energy efficiency are obtained at a water flux of 0.0045 kg/s. The electrical exergy raises with the increment of water flux, whereas the thermal exergy and the exergy efficiency decline with the flux increment. Compared to pure water, the thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency are improved by using MPCMS, and the primary-energy efficiency and the exergy efficiency are increased by 1.85% and 12.12%, separately. It is proved that the MPCMS effectively improves the PV/T system performance.