Advanced thermal management strategies of building-integrated photovoltaic systems using hybrid phase change material-copper channel networks

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) face significant efficiency losses due to operational overheating. This study numerically investigates a hybrid thermal management system combining phase change materials (PCMs) with embedded copper channel networks to address this challenge. This study addresses this gap through a numerical investigation of a hybrid thermal management system combining PCMs with embedded copper channel networks. Three configurations, PCM-only, PCM with U-channels, and PCM with W-channels, were evaluated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for PCM thicknesses of 3–5 cm and two PCM types (RT24HC and Lauryl Alcohol). The results demonstrate that channel geometry and PCM selection dictate a critical trade-off between passive cooling and active heat recovery—a novel finding that provides actionable design guidance. The W-channel configuration with a 5 cm layer of Lauryl Alcohol (LA) PCM proved optimal for passive cooling, maintaining the lowest interior wall temperature of 296.65 K, thereby reducing building cooling loads. Conversely, the U-channel configuration with a 3 cm layer of RT24HC (RT) PCM excelled at active thermal harvesting, achieving the highest outlet fluid temperature of 300.4 K and a heating rate of 0.0072 K/min. The U-channel design also significantly delayed PCM thermal saturation, retaining a liquid fraction of just 0.10 compared to full melting in the baseline. This work provides validated, configuration-specific design strategies for high-efficiency BIPV systems, enabling enhanced electrical output and dual-function thermal energy utilization. • Hybrid PCM-copper channel networks for advanced BIPV thermal management. • CFD-validated design enables dual-function thermal energy utilization. • Copper channel geometry critically delays PCM thermal saturation. • W-channel with 5 cm Lauryl Alcohol PCM optimizes passive cooling (296.65 K). • U-channel with 3 cm RT24HC PCM excels at active heat harvesting (300.4 K).