Studi Eksperimental Integrasi Sistem Fotovoltaik dan Generator Termoelektrik dengan Penyimpan Energi Termal Pada Proses Pengisian dan Pelepasan Panas

Zulfan Faris Fauzi, Ir. Joko Waluyo, M.T., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng., APEC Eng.

2026 | Skripsi | TEKNIK MESIN

Energi panas yang dihasilkan panel surya umumnya terbuang ke lingkungan tanpa dimanfaatkan secara optimal. Salah satu upaya untuk meningkatkan pemanfaatan energi panas tersebut adalah dengan mengintegrasikan Generator Termoelektrik (TEG) dan Phase Change Material (PCM) sebagai media penyimpanan energi termal pada sistem fotovoltaik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis karakteristik termal PCM berbasis campuran 79% asam laurat dan 21% asam palmitat selama proses charging dan discharging, serta membandingkan performa panel surya, generator termoelektrik, dan sistem PV-TEG-PCM pada konfigurasi tanpa PCM, PCM dengan heatsink non-mesh, dan PCM dengan heatsink mesh.

Penelitian dilakukan secara eksperimental menggunakan solar simulator sebagai sumber heat flux buatan. Parameter yang diamati meliputi intensitas heat flux, temperatur panel surya, temperatur sisi panas dan sisi dingin TEG, temperatur PCM, serta keluaran listrik panel surya dan TEG. Data hasil pengujian dianalisis menggunakan pendekatan perpindahan kalor dan termodinamika untuk mengevaluasi karakteristik termal PCM serta performa sistem PV-TEG-PCM.

Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa campuran asam laurat dan asam palmitat mampu menyimpan dan melepaskan energi panas secara efektif selama proses charging dan discharging. Pada proses charging, sistem PV-TEG-PCM dengan heatsink mesh menghasilkan efisiensi sistem tertinggi sebesar 4,77%, diikuti konfigurasi heatsink non-mesh sebesar 3,82%, sedangkan sistem PV-TEG tanpa PCM menghasilkan efisiensi sebesar 3,48%. Pada proses discharging, konfigurasi heatsink mesh juga menunjukkan performa terbaik dengan efisiensi maksimum sebesar 7,31 × 10??%, lebih tinggi dibandingkan konfigurasi heatsink non-mesh sebesar 6,93 × 10??%, sedangkan sistem PV-TEG tanpa PCM tidak menghasilkan keluaran listrik setelah sumber panas dihentikan. Hasil tersebut menunjukkan bahwa integrasi PCM dan heatsink mesh mampu meningkatkan perpindahan panas di dalam media penyimpanan energi termal, mempertahankan perbedaan temperatur pada modul TEG, serta meningkatkan performa sistem PV-TEG-PCM selama proses charging dan discharging.

Kata kunci: Fotovoltaik, Generator Termoelektrik, Phase Change Material (PCM), Pengisian dan Pelepasan Panas, Unjuk Kerja Sistem.

The thermal energy generated by photovoltaic (PV) panels is generally dissipated into the surrounding environment without being effectively utilized. One approach to improving the utilization of this thermal energy is by integrating a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) and a Phase Change Material (PCM)-based thermal energy storage system with the PV module. This study aims to analyze the thermal characteristics of a PCM consisting of 79% lauric acid and 21% palmitic acid during the charging and discharging processes, as well as to compare the performance of PV panels, TEGs, and PV-TEG-PCM systems during charging and discharging under three different configurations: PV-TEG without PCM, PV-TEG-PCM with a non-mesh heatsink, and PV-TEG-PCM with a mesh heatsink.

An experimental method was employed using a solar simulator as an artificial radiation source. The investigated parameters included solar heat flux, PV surface temperature, TEG hot-side and cold-side temperatures, PCM temperature, and the electrical output of both the PV module and the TEG. The experimental data were analyzed using heat transfer and thermodynamic approaches to evaluate the thermal characteristics of the PCM and the performance of the integrated PV-TEG-PCM system.

The results demonstrated that the lauric acid-palmitic acid PCM effectively stored and released thermal energy during the charging and discharging processes. During the charging process, the PV-TEG-PCM system with a mesh heatsink exhibited the highest system efficiency of 4.77%, followed by the non-mesh configuration at 3.82%, while the PV-TEG system without PCM achieved 3.48%. During the discharging process, the mesh-heatsink configuration also demonstrated superior performance, achieving a maximum efficiency of 7.31 × 10??%, compared with 6.93 × 10??% for the non-mesh configuration, whereas the PV-TEG system without PCM produced no electrical output after the heat source was removed. These results indicate that the incorporation of PCM and a mesh heatsink enhances heat transfer within the thermal energy storage medium, maintains a larger temperature difference across the TEG module, and improves the overall performance of the PV-TEG-PCM system during both charging and discharging processes.

Keywords: Photovoltaic, Thermoelectric Generator, Phase Change Material (PCM), Charging and Discharging, System Performance.

Kata Kunci : Kata kunci: Fotovoltaik, Generator Termoelektrik, Phase Change Material (PCM), Pengisian dan Pelepasan Panas, Unjuk Kerja Sistem.