Advancing EVA/SiC Hybrid Nanocomposite Encapsulation for Performance Optimization in Concentrated Solar Power Systems

Encapsulant materials play a crucial role in regulating silicon wafer temperatures, bonding PV cell layers, and mitigating thermal stresses. The incorporation of nanoparticles into an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer matrix presents a promising strategy for improving photovoltaic (PV) performance. In this study, silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles were integrated into the EVA matrix at concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30% through a solvent casting technique to form a hybrid composite. Characterization techniques, including FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), confirmed the uniform dispersion of SiC nanoparticles, ensuring the stability and enhanced properties of the composite. The 30% SiC loading exhibited the most favorable thermal and physical characteristics. A three-dimensional conjugate heat transfer model was developed to simulate fluid flow within a conventional heatsink, coupled with the CPV layers containing the hybrid encapsulant's properties. Two flow configurations-parallel flow (PF) and counter-flow (CF)-were investigated under a solar concentration ratio (CR) of 15 suns. Results indicated that the hybrid encapsulant layer improved both average and local silicon layer temperatures by approximately 8%, with the CF configuration showing superior thermal performance. Electrical efficiency reached 19%, exceeding typical literature values for polycrystalline solar cells, which report about 15% efficiency. The model predicted that the CF configuration provided more uniform temperature distribution, whereas PF exhibited non-uniform temperature variation across the cell surface.