Novel enhanced conduction model for predicting performance of a PV panel cooled by PCM

•A new model is developed to predict PV/PCM performance with a minimal time cost.•The model results are in good agreement with experimental and CFD counterparts.•A seasonally optimum inclination angle of PV/PCM is allocated for a real condition.•PCM thickness is investigated during days of successive melting and solidification. A novel simplified one-dimensional mathematical model is proposed to predict the temperature of the PV (Tpv) that is in contact with the PCM, with nearly the same accuracy of CFD modeling yet reducing the computational time by two or three orders of magnitude. The new approach, “1D Enhanced Conduction Model (ECM)”, novelty is based on estimating the equivalent thermal conductivity that enhanced by the convection currents within the PCM during melting and solidification processes, and under the various angle of inclination for a PV panel. In addition, a CFD model for simulating the performance of PV/PCM is also developed. The two models are validated with experimental published data and exhibited good agreements. Comparisons have been performed between both models at different inclination angles (from 0° to 90°) and aspect ratios of two, four and eight. The maximum deviations between the two models in calculating the average Tpv, during the high-intensity period of melting (10:00 to 15:00), and for all angles of inclination are 0.74% and 1.78% for lowest and highest aspect ratio respectively, and practically no deviation during solidification. Employing this fast model, optimized seasonal inclination angles of PV/PTM for maximizing the electrical yield were obtained for Alexandria, Egypt under real ambient and solar energy conditions. Furthermore, the effects of various PCM thicknesses during successive days of the simulation were investigated.