Multidimensional assessment of a photovoltaic air collector integrated phase changing material considering Mexican climatic conditions

The integration of a photovoltaic-thermal-air collector with phase changing material is subjected to local climatic dynamics. The prime novelty of this work is to include the climatic dynamics for the selection of phase changing material specifically applied for Mexico and to analyze the system based on multidimensional parameters. In other words, the main achievement of this work is to present an energetically, exergetically, and economically viable PVT assembly with phase changing material depending on the weather dynamics. The yearly equivalent analysis is carried out for three different climatic zones within the Koppen classification (Aw, BSh, and Cwb) to select the optimal phase-changing material. Fifteen multidimensional performance indicators are analyzed which are based on energy, exergy, exergetic sustainability, life cycle CO2 emissions, enviroeconomic, exergoenvironmental, and economic analysis. The results have shown that a temperature decrement as high as similar to 20% can be attained for the bestselected phase-changing material. The electrical, thermal and exergetic efficiency ranges from similar to 8 to similar to 11%, 25-similar to 33% and similar to 13-similar to 17% respectively. The carbon pricing factor ranges from $20.00-$32.00 MXN per year. For the life cycle cost analysis, the local inflation, and the discount rate is considered. The Levelized Cost of energy ranges from $3.09 MXN/(kWh) to $4.30 MXN/(kWh) and the payback period ranges from similar to 10 to similar to 15 years. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.