PCM-Based for Heat Storage in Solar-Thermal Converter

Abstract

Solar thermal energy is one of the promising renewable and sustainable energy that have gain research interest. However, the nature of intermittent solar irradiation limits the usage of this energy. Phase change material (PCM) are substance that has the property of absorbing and releasing thermal energy through phase transformation. Combination of graphene foam/PCM composite will be able to absorb heat from solar thermal energy and sustain energy release to thermoelectric generator (TEG) for electrical conversion. Two different PCM material were tested which are petroleum-based paraffin wax and bio-based PCM beeswax. Thermal properties of both materials were measured using DSC and heat absorption were tested under real solar irradiation. This solar-thermal converter showed that graphene/paraffin/beeswax composite is more effective than the paraffin wax or beeswax alone. The recorded results also showed that combination of these petroleum based and bio-based PCM with added graphene foam could retain longer heat than graphene/paraffin wax and individual PCM. The longer heat can be stored in solar-thermal converter device may sustain electricity generation even with absence of solar energy.

A Review of CZTS Thin Film Solar Cell Technology

“…Although other research in solar cells focus on organic solar cells such as DSSC [73], perovskite and quantum dots, the efficiencies is still low compared to inorganic solar cells. To increase the efficiencies, study also has move on into hybrid system solar cells such as with thermoelectric material [74,75] and phase change material (PCM) [76] as one of promising area in solar cells. However, this review will focus on development of CZTS-based as an alternative material for thin film solar cells aim at different fabrication method, characterization of thin film as well as other promising dopant for solar cell materials which not containing rare or hazardous elements.…”