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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/Y02821X/1
Title PCM-in-PV - PV cells with modified optical and thermal properties for high-efficiency electrical applications
Status Started
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 25%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 25%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 30%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 10%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 10%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr CN Markides
No email address given
Chemical Engineering
Imperial College London
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 September 2023
End Date 31 August 2025
Duration 24 months
Total Grant Value £200,512
Industrial Sectors
Region London
Programme UKRI MSCA
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr CN Markides , Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London (100.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Solar energy technology is one of the favourable alternatives in providing electricity for houses and low-speed vehicles. Due to the elevated environment temperature cause by global warming, the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) cells has decrease tremendously. The aim of this project is to develop a novel PV cell with impregnated phase-change material (PCM), which has the capability of absorbing heat radiated and generated into the cell as the form of latent heat, while maximising the conversion efficiency of a multi-crystalline Si cell with improved thermal and optical properties which converts electricity at low cell temperature. The impregnated PCM acts as an absorber that takes in heat from both the radiation from the Sun and generated from energy conversion. The heat absorbed are stored within the PCM through melting process, i.e. the heat is stored as the latent heat of fusion for the PCM. The transition of phase from PCM provides different thermal and optical properties for the cells, taking in the abundance of heat and light energy from the Sun and transform them into useful energy. The PCM-in-PV project covers a wide range of discipline, such as materials engineering, chemistry, physics, energy, mechanical and chemical engineering
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 02/08/23