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Title: Enhancing the thermal conductivity of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) in a photovoltaic thermal collector

Journal Article · · AIP Advances
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4944557· OSTI ID:22611580
;  [1]
  1. School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, London, UB8 3PH (United Kingdom)

Samples of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) were doped with particles of Boron Nitride (BN) in concentrations ranging from 0-60% w/w. Thermal conductivity was measured using a Differential Scanning Calorimetery (DSC) technique. The thermal conductivity of parent EVA was increased from 0.24 W/m ⋅ K to 0.80 W/m ⋅ K for the 60% w/w sample. Two PV laminates were made; one using the parent EVA the other using EVA doped with 50% BN. When exposed to a one directional heat flux the doped laminate was, on average, 6% cooler than the standard laminate. A finite difference model had good agreement with experimental results and showed that the use of 60% BN composite achieved a PV performance increase of 0.3% compared to the standard laminate.

OSTI ID:
22611580
Journal Information:
AIP Advances, Vol. 6, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2158-3226
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English