IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v209y2020ics0360544220315474.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cross sectional geometries effect on the energy efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal module: Numerical simulation and experimental validation

Author

Listed:
  • Pang, Wei
  • Zhang, Yongzhe
  • Duck, Benjamin C.
  • Yu, Hongwen
  • Song, Xuemei
  • Yan, Hui

Abstract

The operating temperature influences both the electrical efficiency and thermal efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal (PVT) module. In this paper, a simplified thermal transfer model is used to search for the optimal structure of a high efficiency PVT module. For an aluminum collector with a given thickness, the optimal ratio between size and spacing and cross sectional geometry of the flow channels has been found with numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The temperature distribution of the PVT module constructed with an aluminum collector is found to be more uniform than the conventional sheet-tube PVT module, due to using an improved thermal transfer mode based on the surface contact. To evaluate the impact of cross sectional geometry, the operating temperatures, electrical and thermal efficiencies of two PVT modules designed with rectangle and arch geometries are examined under outdoor conditions. Measured experimental intercept values of instantaneous thermal efficiencies are close to simulation results, demonstrating the utility of the approach as a reference for a new generation of PVT modules in future.

Suggested Citation

  • Pang, Wei & Zhang, Yongzhe & Duck, Benjamin C. & Yu, Hongwen & Song, Xuemei & Yan, Hui, 2020. "Cross sectional geometries effect on the energy efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal module: Numerical simulation and experimental validation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:209:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220315474
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.118439
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544220315474
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2020.118439?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sarhaddi, F. & Farahat, S. & Ajam, H. & Behzadmehr, A. & Mahdavi Adeli, M., 2010. "An improved thermal and electrical model for a solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) air collector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(7), pages 2328-2339, July.
    2. Schiro, Fabio & Benato, Alberto & Stoppato, Anna & Destro, Nicola, 2017. "Improving photovoltaics efficiency by water cooling: Modelling and experimental approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 798-810.
    3. Yuan, Weiqi & Ji, Jie & Li, Zhaomeng & Zhou, Fan & Ren, Xiao & Zhao, Xudong & Liu, Shuli, 2018. "Comparison study of the performance of two kinds of photovoltaic/thermal(PV/T) systems and a PV module at high ambient temperature," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 1153-1161.
    4. Tyagi, V.V. & Kaushik, S.C. & Tyagi, S.K., 2012. "Advancement in solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid collector technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 1383-1398.
    5. Ahmed, Omer Khalil & Mohammed, Zala Aziz, 2017. "Influence of porous media on the performance of hybrid PV/Thermal collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 378-387.
    6. Yu, Y. & Yang, H. & Peng, J. & Long, E., 2019. "Performance comparisons of two flat-plate photovoltaic thermal collectors with different channel configurations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 300-308.
    7. Bigorajski, Jarosław & Chwieduk, Dorota, 2019. "Analysis of a micro photovoltaic/thermal – PV/T system operation in moderate climate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 127-136.
    8. Das, Dudul & Kalita, Pankaj & Roy, Omkar, 2018. "Flat plate hybrid photovoltaic- thermal (PV/T) system: A review on design and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 111-130.
    9. Rejeb, Oussama & Gaillard, Leon & Giroux-Julien, Stéphanie & Ghenai, Chaouki & Jemni, Abdelmajid & Bettayeb, Maamar & Menezo, Christophe, 2020. "Novel solar PV/Thermal collector design for the enhancement of thermal and electrical performances," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 610-627.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maadi, Seyed Reza & Navegi, Ali & Solomin, Evgeny & Ahn, Ho Seon & Wongwises, Somchai & Mahian, Omid, 2021. "Performance improvement of a photovoltaic-thermal system using a wavy-strip insert with and without nanofluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    2. Cong Jiao & Zeyu Li, 2023. "An Updated Review of Solar Cooling Systems Driven by Photovoltaic–Thermal Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-34, July.
    3. Ghasemian, Mehran & Sheikholeslami, M. & Dehghan, Maziar, 2023. "Performance improvement of photovoltaic/thermal systems by using twisted tapes in the coolant tubes with different cross-section patterns," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    4. Han, Zhonghe & Liu, Kaixin & Li, Guiqiang & Zhao, Xudong & Shittu, Samson, 2021. "Electrical and thermal performance comparison between PVT-ST and PV-ST systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Khani, M.S. & Baneshi, M. & Eslami, M., 2019. "Bi-objective optimization of photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) solar collectors according to various weather conditions using genetic algorithm: A numerical modeling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    2. Pang, Wei & Cui, Yanan & Zhang, Qian & Wilson, Gregory.J. & Yan, Hui, 2020. "A comparative analysis on performances of flat plate photovoltaic/thermal collectors in view of operating media, structural designs, and climate conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Barone, Giovanni & Buonomano, Annamaria & Forzano, Cesare & Palombo, Adolfo & Panagopoulos, Orestis, 2019. "Photovoltaic thermal collectors: Experimental analysis and simulation model of an innovative low-cost water-based prototype," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 502-516.
    4. Yu, Qinghua & Chen, Xi & Yang, Hongxing, 2021. "Research progress on utilization of phase change materials in photovoltaic/thermal systems: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    5. Ruoping, Yan & Xiaohui, Yu & Fuwei, Lu & Huajun, Wang, 2020. "Study of operation performance for a solar photovoltaic system assisted cooling by ground heat exchangers in arid climate, China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 102-110.
    6. Ulloa, Carlos & Nuñez, José M. & Lin, Chengxian & Rey, Guillermo, 2018. "AHP-based design method of a lightweight, portable and flexible air-based PV-T module for UAV shelter hangars," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 767-780.
    7. Moh’d Al-Nimr & Abdallah Milhem & Basel Al-Bishawi & Khaleel Al Khasawneh, 2020. "Integrating Transparent and Conventional Solar Cells TSC/SC," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-22, September.
    8. Gao, Dan & Zhao, Yang & Liang, Kai & He, Shuyu & Zhang, Heng & Chen, Haiping, 2022. "Energy and exergy analyses of a low-concentration photovoltaic/thermal module with glass channel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    9. Rounis, Efstratios Dimitrios & Athienitis, Andreas & Stathopoulos, Theodore, 2021. "Review of air-based PV/T and BIPV/T systems - Performance and modelling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1729-1753.
    10. Vengadesan, Elumalai & Senthil, Ramalingam, 2020. "A review on recent developments in thermal performance enhancement methods of flat plate solar air collector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    11. Hachicha, Ahmed Amine & Abo-Zahhad, Essam M. & Said, Zafar & Rahman, S.M.A., 2022. "Numerical and experimental investigations of the electrical and thermal performances of a novel PV thermal system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 990-1000.
    12. Oussama El Manssouri & Bekkay Hajji & Giuseppe Marco Tina & Antonio Gagliano & Stefano Aneli, 2021. "Electrical and Thermal Performances of Bi-Fluid PV/Thermal Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-20, March.
    13. Vinícius Silva & Julio Martinez & Raphael Heideier & Jonathas Bernal & André Gimenes & Miguel Udaeta & Marco Saidel, 2021. "A Long-Term Analysis of the Architecture and Operation of Water Film Cooling System for Commercial PV Modules," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-29, March.
    14. Tomar, Vivek & Norton, Brian & Tiwari, G.N., 2019. "A novel approach towards investigating the performance of different PVT configurations integrated on test cells: An experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 93-108.
    15. Faisal Masood & Nursyarizal Bin Mohd Nor & Perumal Nallagownden & Irraivan Elamvazuthi & Rahman Saidur & Mohammad Azad Alam & Javed Akhter & Mohammad Yusuf & Mubbashar Mehmood & Mujahid Ali, 2022. "A Review of Recent Developments and Applications of Compound Parabolic Concentrator-Based Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic/Thermal Collectors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-30, May.
    16. Ahmed, Omer K. & Hamada, Khalaf I. & Salih, Abdulrazzaq M., 2019. "Enhancement of the performance of Photovoltaic/Trombe wall system using the porous medium: Experimental and theoretical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 14-26.
    17. Tiwari, Sumit & Agrawal, Sanjay & Tiwari, G.N., 2018. "PVT air collector integrated greenhouse dryers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 142-159.
    18. Michael, Jee Joe & S, Iniyan & Goic, Ranko, 2015. "Flat plate solar photovoltaic–thermal (PV/T) systems: A reference guide," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 62-88.
    19. Cirrincione, Laura & Malara, Cristina & Marino, Concettina & Nucara, Antonino & Peri, Giorgia & Pietrafesa, Matilde, 2020. "Effect of the thermal storage dimensions on the performances of solar photovoltaic-thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 2004-2018.
    20. Hwi-Ung Choi & Kwang-Hwan Choi, 2022. "Performance Evaluation of PVT Air Collector Coupled with a Triangular Block in Actual Climate Conditions in Korea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:209:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220315474. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.