en.Wedoany.com Reported - Researchers at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) in Brazil have conducted an experimental evaluation of retrofitting commercial photovoltaic modules into photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) modules, identifying the practical constraints that currently limit the techno-economic feasibility of this approach. The research team used thermosyphons as passive cooling devices and tested a combined system consisting of a standard 60-watt polycrystalline photovoltaic module with four rear-mounted thermosyphons under real outdoor conditions.

The experimental results showed that the PVT module experienced a slight decrease in electrical efficiency due to increased thermal resistance, but the total energy efficiency reached approximately 45.75% under sunny conditions, rising to over 50% on cloudy days due to thermal inertia. A plateau in the heat removal rate was observed, indicating upper limits in thermosyphon capacity and thermal contact quality. Flow rate proved to be a critical parameter: better performance was achieved at 6.5 L/min, while at 1.5 L/min, electrical efficiency dropped to 10.93% and total efficiency was only 19.02%.

The study indicates that the current configuration of four thermosyphons is insufficient to achieve thermal parity, requiring an increase in heat removal capacity of approximately 60%, for example by adding two or three more thermosyphons or improving the thermal contact area. Despite these limitations, the system demonstrated stable operation and consistent heat recovery under varying environmental conditions, making it suitable for low-grade thermal energy utilization. The related paper was published in the journal Energy Conversion and Management.

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