Energy Performance of an Encapsulated Phase Change Material PV/T System

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The study presented in the manuscript is well described and clearly presented. Discussion and conclusions and correct, thus the manuscript can be published as it is.

Author Response

Thanks for your review.

Reviewer 2 Report

With great interest, I have read the paper "Energy performance of an encapsulated phase change material PV/T system".

This work deals with experiment and numerical simulations in order to demonstrate the influence of the PCM's melting temperature on the efficiency of the system. The main target of this work is to gain new insights for thermal enhancement of photovoltaic/thermal system.

This manuscript consists of 21 pages  including 10 figures, 2 Tables, and 22 references. The review of the manuscript leaves me feel that this is an numerical study rather than experimental. Hereafter, here are my feedback and questions:

 

First, authors should indicate that numerical simulation is conducted using the FLUENT14.0 code in the abstract. It is unfortunate to read the subsection 4 to find out. For such a subject, the introduction should be better lined. In Figure 2, details on the materials and equipments that were used in the experiment is missing. e.g. which type of sensor was used? what about their precession?  their placement? On page7, line 167, please specify, which terms are constant at laboratory condition. On page13, line 371, please add reference for the software.   On page13, line 372, why Quasi-k-ε two-equation was selected? any specific reason?  Table 1, 2, the information are measured experimentally or from the supplier? please specify.   Why the authors have not used the specific heat capacity method? It would be appropriate to consider such a method to supplement the undertaken numerical simulation. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

This paper is concerned with the investigation of the performance of an encapsulated phase change material (PCM) photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system. This is done through the construction of a computer model based on a PCM PV/T panel and its validation through experimental data. The paper has merit and would be worthy of publication provided the following concerns have been answered:

(i) The citations in the main text should be, for example, [1] and not super-index ¹.

(ii) Equation (1) should be fixed.

(iii) In Figure 3, ‘7’ is missing.

(iv) In Equation (16), super-index ⁺ should be explained.

(v) All variables and parameters should be given in italic everywhere (not only in the equations) (see for example l. 349).

(vi) In Figures 6,7,8 which curve corresponds to which PCM (and not temperature)?

(vii) Were the conditions mentioned in l. 455-456, mentioned before?

(viii) In The “Conclusions” could be expanded to include and address the consequences and implications of the findings of the present study.

(ix) The quality of the language needs improvement.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

My comments/questions have been adequately addressed by the authors. The current version of the manuscript is considered much more attractive for the readers.