Thermal management in photovoltaic-thermal systems: advances, challenges, and cross-domain applications

作者：Chengle Bian, Jianzhong Song, Xing Jin, Weixue Jiang, Xiong Jie, Liu Yang · 发表于：Applied Thermal Engineering · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.127791 · 被引用次数：15 · 研究领域：Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems、Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques、Heat Transfer and Optimization

With the continuous growth of global energy demand and the urgent need to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems, effective thermal management of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems is becoming increasingly important. A comprehensive review of the thermal management technologies in the PVT system was conducted, and their collaborative applications in different fields were discussed. This paper systematically classifies and analyzes the six main thermal management methods of the PVT system: air, water, nanofluid, phase change material (PCM), heat pipe and refrigerant cooling. For each strategy, key performance indicators including thermoelectric efficiency and economic-environmental benefits, as well as the feasibility of integrated application, were evaluated. The comparative analysis highlights the relative advantages and limitations of each technology: air cooling offers simplicity and low cost, but only generates a moderate temperature drop, while water-based cooling enhances cooling efficiency. The integration of nanofluid coolants and heat pipes significantly enhances heat transfer and overall efficiency, while the PCM integration offers thermal stability at the cost of slower heat dissipation. Active cooling achieves maximum heat removal, but it requires additional energy input and system complexity. The potential for multi-domain integration was also discussed, including the coupling of PVT with building heating, product drying or industrial processes, demo...