Experimental-numerical comparative study of performance and cost-effectiveness of partially- and fully-cooled photovoltaic thermal systems

In this paper, an experimental and numerical analysis was carried out to evaluate and compare the energy and exergy performances of three solar systems: a photovoltaic system (PV-S) without cooling, a partially-cooled photovoltaic thermal system (PVT-S) and a fully-cooled PVT-S. In addition, a compa...

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Main Authors: Yassine El Alami, Elhadi Baghaz, Rehena Nasrin, Fatima Chanaa, Rachid Bendaoud, Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban, Mohamed Louzazni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25009207
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author Yassine El Alami
Elhadi Baghaz
Rehena Nasrin
Fatima Chanaa
Rachid Bendaoud
Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban
Mohamed Louzazni
author_facet Yassine El Alami
Elhadi Baghaz
Rehena Nasrin
Fatima Chanaa
Rachid Bendaoud
Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban
Mohamed Louzazni
author_sort Yassine El Alami
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, an experimental and numerical analysis was carried out to evaluate and compare the energy and exergy performances of three solar systems: a photovoltaic system (PV-S) without cooling, a partially-cooled photovoltaic thermal system (PVT-S) and a fully-cooled PVT-S. In addition, a comparison of payback times between PVT-Ss was carried out. The impact of mass flow and different solar irradiation levels on the energy and exergy performance of the three systems was also examined. Numerical analysis was carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics® software, and the results obtained were validated by experimental data collected in outdoor conditions. The results show that the fully-cooled system offers the best performance. Under 600–1200 W/m2 irradiation, cell temperature rises by 29.14 °C for the uncooled PV-S, 19.82 °C for the partially-cooled PVT-S, and 7.04 °C for the fully-cooled PVT-S. Electrical efficiency (EEF) decreases by 1.98 %, 1.35 %, and 0.48 % respectively. Thermal exergy efficiency increases by 9.49 % for the partially-cooled system and 11.7 % for the fully-cooled system. Maximum thermal efficiency (TEF) reaches 60.72 % for the partially-cooled system and 77.89 % for the fully-cooled system. Increasing the mass flow rate (MFR) from 0.0167 to 0.05 kg/s improves EEF by 0.14 % and 0.33 %, and TEF by 22.72 % and 30.15 % respectively. Finally, the fully-cooled system reduces payback time by 3.86 years compared with the partially-cooled system.
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spelling doaj-art-3cb79334d2f04694a6c0204da4bfd8c82025-08-20T02:39:19ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-09-017310666010.1016/j.csite.2025.106660Experimental-numerical comparative study of performance and cost-effectiveness of partially- and fully-cooled photovoltaic thermal systemsYassine El Alami0Elhadi Baghaz1Rehena Nasrin2Fatima Chanaa3Rachid Bendaoud4Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban5Mohamed Louzazni6Laboratory of Electronics, Instrumentation and Energetic, Faculty of Sciences, Chouaïb Doukkali University, B.P 20, El Jadida, MoroccoLaboratory of Electronics, Instrumentation and Energetic, Faculty of Sciences, Chouaïb Doukkali University, B.P 20, El Jadida, MoroccoDepartment of Mathematics, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1000, BangladeshLaboratory of Electronics, Instrumentation and Energetic, Faculty of Sciences, Chouaïb Doukkali University, B.P 20, El Jadida, Morocco; Systems Control, Pilotage and Supervision Team, Engineering Sciences and Professions Laboratory, ENSAM, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meknes, MoroccoLaboratory of Electronics, Instrumentation and Energetic, Faculty of Sciences, Chouaïb Doukkali University, B.P 20, El Jadida, Morocco; Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Research in Science, Education, and Training, Higher School of Education and Training-Berrechid, Hassan First University, Berrechid, MoroccoDepartment of Electrical Engineering, IT and Cybernetic, University of South-Eastern, Norway–Campus Porsgrunn, 7430, Norway; Corresponding author.Science Engineer Laboratory for Energy, National School of Applied Sciences, Chouaib Doukkali University of El Jadida, MoroccoIn this paper, an experimental and numerical analysis was carried out to evaluate and compare the energy and exergy performances of three solar systems: a photovoltaic system (PV-S) without cooling, a partially-cooled photovoltaic thermal system (PVT-S) and a fully-cooled PVT-S. In addition, a comparison of payback times between PVT-Ss was carried out. The impact of mass flow and different solar irradiation levels on the energy and exergy performance of the three systems was also examined. Numerical analysis was carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics® software, and the results obtained were validated by experimental data collected in outdoor conditions. The results show that the fully-cooled system offers the best performance. Under 600–1200 W/m2 irradiation, cell temperature rises by 29.14 °C for the uncooled PV-S, 19.82 °C for the partially-cooled PVT-S, and 7.04 °C for the fully-cooled PVT-S. Electrical efficiency (EEF) decreases by 1.98 %, 1.35 %, and 0.48 % respectively. Thermal exergy efficiency increases by 9.49 % for the partially-cooled system and 11.7 % for the fully-cooled system. Maximum thermal efficiency (TEF) reaches 60.72 % for the partially-cooled system and 77.89 % for the fully-cooled system. Increasing the mass flow rate (MFR) from 0.0167 to 0.05 kg/s improves EEF by 0.14 % and 0.33 %, and TEF by 22.72 % and 30.15 % respectively. Finally, the fully-cooled system reduces payback time by 3.86 years compared with the partially-cooled system.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25009207Photovoltaic thermal systemTotal and partial coolingCOMSOL Multiphysics®Electrical efficiencyPayback timeThermal efficiency
spellingShingle Yassine El Alami
Elhadi Baghaz
Rehena Nasrin
Fatima Chanaa
Rachid Bendaoud
Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban
Mohamed Louzazni
Experimental-numerical comparative study of performance and cost-effectiveness of partially- and fully-cooled photovoltaic thermal systems
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Photovoltaic thermal system
Total and partial cooling
COMSOL Multiphysics®
Electrical efficiency
Payback time
Thermal efficiency
title Experimental-numerical comparative study of performance and cost-effectiveness of partially- and fully-cooled photovoltaic thermal systems
title_full Experimental-numerical comparative study of performance and cost-effectiveness of partially- and fully-cooled photovoltaic thermal systems
title_fullStr Experimental-numerical comparative study of performance and cost-effectiveness of partially- and fully-cooled photovoltaic thermal systems
title_full_unstemmed Experimental-numerical comparative study of performance and cost-effectiveness of partially- and fully-cooled photovoltaic thermal systems
title_short Experimental-numerical comparative study of performance and cost-effectiveness of partially- and fully-cooled photovoltaic thermal systems
title_sort experimental numerical comparative study of performance and cost effectiveness of partially and fully cooled photovoltaic thermal systems
topic Photovoltaic thermal system
Total and partial cooling
COMSOL Multiphysics®
Electrical efficiency
Payback time
Thermal efficiency
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25009207
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AT rehenanasrin experimentalnumericalcomparativestudyofperformanceandcosteffectivenessofpartiallyandfullycooledphotovoltaicthermalsystems
AT fatimachanaa experimentalnumericalcomparativestudyofperformanceandcosteffectivenessofpartiallyandfullycooledphotovoltaicthermalsystems
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