Flexible photovoltaic roofs (FPR) are suitable for
curved and lightweight buildings due to lightweight, bendable, and
easy-to-install characteristics, making them a promising direction for
building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) in urban renewal. However, the limited
heat dissipation capacity of FPR leads to elevated module temperatures, which
reduces photovoltaic conversion efficiency and power generation, hindering its
engineering application. Based on passive thermal management using phase change
material (PCM), this study proposes a theoretical calculation model modified by
the enthalpy method for thermal balance. Using meteorological data from cities
across China’s five climatic zones (from severe cold to hot summer and warm
winter), the effects of phase change temperature (25–45 °C) and thickness
(20–60 mm) on temperature regulation and power performance of the FPR-PCM
system are investigated. Results show that the effect of latent and sensible
heat of PCM significantly suppresses temperature rise in PV modules, with a
maximum temperature reduction of 35.46% and a maximum power increase of 16.24%
during summer in Guangzhou. Climate adaptability analysis indicates stable
annual regulation performance in low-latitude regions such as Guangzhou
(monthly increase at ~2 kW·h), while significant seasonal
variations are observed in high-latitude regions such as Harbin. Further
considering building load and economic constraints, optimized thresholds for
PCM layer thickness (≤60 mm) and recommended temperatures (35–45 °C for
high-temperature regions; 25–30 °C for temperate regions) are proposed. This
study can provide theoretical and technical references for climate-adaptive
design of BIPV systems.
ZHOU Jinghang1, HU Jianhui1, 2, CHEN Wujun 1, HUANG Saishuai3, XU Yi3, LU Jian4
. Climate-Adaptive
Design of Phase Change Materials for Thermal and Efficiency Management in
Flexible Photovoltaic Roofs[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, 0
: 1
.
DOI: 10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2025.302