IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v241y2025ics096014812402264x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Numerical analysis and comparison of different serpentine-based photovoltaic-thermal collectors

Author

Listed:
  • Olmuş, Umutcan
  • Güzelel, Yunus Emre
  • Çerçi, Kamil Neyfel
  • Büyükalaca, Orhan

Abstract

This study investigated the performance of 25 serpentine-based photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collector configurations using numerical modeling with COMSOL Multiphysics software. The analysis compared single-inlet, double-inlet and triple-inlet configurations, with tubes arranged both horizontally and vertically, while maintaining constant geometric properties. Some of the configurations examined were studied for the first time in the open literature. The analyses were conducted in two stages. First, all configurations were compared under base-case conditions using various energetic and exergetic performance metrics. The results revealed that configurations K1 and M, which are novel, and configuration B demonstrated superior performance. Second, the effects of water inlet temperature, flowrate, and solar irradiance on the temperature distribution and efficiency metrics were evaluated for the top three performing configurations. The findings showed that these configurations exhibited similar trends in response to changes in operating conditions. Specifically, increasing the flowrate significantly enhanced thermal, electrical, and primary energy saving efficiencies, while higher water inlet temperatures led to reductions in all efficiency metrics. Moreover, pressure drop decreased as the number of inlets increased. The research emphasizes the importance of selecting a design to enhance the performance of PVT collector based on the various performance metrics.

Suggested Citation

  • Olmuş, Umutcan & Güzelel, Yunus Emre & Çerçi, Kamil Neyfel & Büyükalaca, Orhan, 2025. "Numerical analysis and comparison of different serpentine-based photovoltaic-thermal collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:241:y:2025:i:c:s096014812402264x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.122196
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014812402264X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.122196?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. Shahsavar, Amin & Eisapour, Mehdi & Talebizadehsardari, Pouyan, 2020. "Experimental evaluation of novel photovoltaic/thermal systems using serpentine cooling tubes with different cross-sections of circular, triangular and rectangular," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    2. Menon, Govind S. & Murali, S. & Elias, Jacob & Aniesrani Delfiya, D.S. & Alfiya, P.V. & Samuel, Manoj P., 2022. "Experimental investigations on unglazed photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) system using water and nanofluid cooling medium," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 986-996.
    3. Khan, Sheher Yar & Waqas, Adeel & Kumar, Mahesh & Liu, Shuli & Shen, Yongliang & Chen, Tingsen & Shoaib, Muhammad & Khan, Muhammad Omair, 2024. "Experimental, numerical, and 4E assessment of photovoltaic module using macro-encapsulation of pure and nano phase change material: A comparative analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    4. Kazemian, Arash & Ma, Tao & Hongxing, Yang, 2024. "Evaluation of various collector configurations for a photovoltaic thermal system to achieve high performance, low cost, and lightweight," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    5. Zou, Wenlong & Yu, Gang & Du, Xiaoze, 2024. "Energy and exergy analysis of photovoltaic thermal collectors: Comprehensive investigation of operating parameters in different dynamic models," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    6. Shahsavar, Amin & Jha, Prabhakar & Arici, Muslum & Kefayati, Gholamreza, 2021. "A comparative experimental investigation of energetic and exergetic performances of water/magnetite nanofluid-based photovoltaic/thermal system equipped with finned and unfinned collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    7. Herrando, María & Ramos, Alba & Zabalza, Ignacio & Markides, Christos N., 2019. "A comprehensive assessment of alternative absorber-exchanger designs for hybrid PVT-water collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1583-1602.
    8. Lari, Muhammad O. & Sahin, Ahmet Z., 2018. "Effect of retrofitting a silver/water nanofluid-based photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system with a PCM-thermal battery for residential applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 98-107.
    9. Eisapour, M. & Eisapour, Amir Hossein & Hosseini, M.J. & Talebizadehsardari, P., 2020. "Exergy and energy analysis of wavy tubes photovoltaic-thermal systems using microencapsulated PCM nano-slurry coolant fluid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    10. Alshibil, Ahssan M.A. & Farkas, István & Víg, Piroska, 2023. "Thermodynamical analysis and evaluation of louver-fins based hybrid bi-fluid photovoltaic/thermal collector systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1120-1131.
    11. Zhang, Chunxiao & Shen, Chao & Zhang, Yingbo & Sun, Cheng & Chwieduk, Dorota & Kalogirou, Soteris A., 2021. "Optimization of the electricity/heat production of a PV/T system based on spectral splitting with Ag nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 30-39.
    12. Eisapour, Amir Hossein & Eisapour, M. & Hosseini, M.J. & Shafaghat, A.H. & Talebizadeh Sardari, P. & Ranjbar, A.A., 2021. "Toward a highly efficient photovoltaic thermal module: Energy and exergy analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1351-1372.
    13. Sheikholeslami, M. & Khalili, Z., 2024. "Solar photovoltaic-thermal system with novel design of tube containing eco-friendly nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    14. Nasrin, R. & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A., 2018. "Effect of high irradiation and cooling on power, energy and performance of a PVT system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(PA), pages 552-569.
    15. Nahar, Afroza & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A. & Parvin, S., 2019. "Numerical investigation on the effect of different parameters in enhancing heat transfer performance of photovoltaic thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 284-295.
    16. Yildirim, Mehmet Ali & Cebula, Artur, 2024. "A numerical and experimental analysis of a novel highly-efficient water-based PV/T system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    17. Tyagi, Praveen Kumar & Kumar, Rajan, 2024. "Thermodynamic modeling and performance optimization of nanofluid-based photovoltaic/thermal system using central composite design scheme of response surface methodology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    18. Nasrin, R. & Rahim, N.A. & Fayaz, H. & Hasanuzzaman, M., 2018. "Water/MWCNT nanofluid based cooling system of PVT: Experimental and numerical research," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 286-300.
    19. Michael, Jee Joe & Selvarasan, Iniyan & Goic, Ranko, 2016. "Fabrication, experimental study and testing of a novel photovoltaic module for photovoltaic thermal applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 95-104.
    20. Bin Yan & Qiuxuan Wu & Xiaoni Chi & Chenxi Wu & Ping Luo & Yanbin Luo & Pingliang Zeng, 2022. "Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Photovoltaic/Thermal Systems: Parameter Analysis and Determination of Optimum Flow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Olmuş, Umutcan & Güzelel, Yunus Emre & Büyükalaca, Orhan, 2025. "Comparative numerical investigation of different PVT collector configurations: Energy and exergy analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    2. Maadi, Seyed Reza & Sabzali, Hossein & Arabkoohsar, Ahmad, 2024. "Performance characterization of nano-enhanced PV/T systems in various cross-sections, extended flow turbulators, fins, and corrugated patterns," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    3. Liu, Liu & Niu, Jianlei & Wu, Jian-Yong, 2023. "Improving energy efficiency of photovoltaic/thermal systems by cooling with PCM nano-emulsions: An indoor experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 568-582.
    4. Eisapour, Amir Hossein & Eisapour, M. & Hosseini, M.J. & Shafaghat, A.H. & Talebizadeh Sardari, P. & Ranjbar, A.A., 2021. "Toward a highly efficient photovoltaic thermal module: Energy and exergy analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1351-1372.
    5. Kazemian, Arash & Ma, Tao & Hongxing, Yang, 2024. "Evaluation of various collector configurations for a photovoltaic thermal system to achieve high performance, low cost, and lightweight," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    6. 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).
    7. Hassan, Atazaz & Abbas, Sajid & Yousuf, Saima & Abbas, Fakhar & Amin, N.M. & Ali, Shujaat & Shahid Mastoi, Muhammad, 2023. "An experimental and numerical study on the impact of various parameters in improving the heat transfer performance characteristics of a water based photovoltaic thermal system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 499-512.
    8. Mukhamad Faeshol Umam & Md. Hasanuzzaman & Nasrudin Abd Rahim, 2022. "Global Advancement of Nanofluid-Based Sheet and Tube Collectors for a Photovoltaic Thermal System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-37, August.
    9. Alshibil, Ahssan M.A. & Vig, Piroska & Farkas, Istvan, 2024. "Performance enhancement attempts on the photovoltaic/thermal module and the sustainability achievements: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    10. Herrando, María & Fantoni, Guillermo & Cubero, Ana & Simón-Allué, Raquel & Guedea, Isabel & Fueyo, Norberto, 2023. "Numerical analysis of the fluid flow and heat transfer of a hybrid PV-thermal collector and performance assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 122-132.
    11. Sheikholeslami, M. & Khalili, Z., 2024. "Solar photovoltaic-thermal system with novel design of tube containing eco-friendly nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    12. Salari, Ali & Parcheforosh, Ali & Hakkaki-Fard, Ali & Amadeh, Ali, 2020. "A numerical study on a photovoltaic thermal system integrated with a thermoelectric generator module," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1261-1271.
    13. Göksu, Taha Tuna, 2024. "Energy, exergy analysis, and RSM modeling of different designed twisted tapes in placed PV/T systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    14. Wan Afin Fadzlin & Md. Hasanuzzaman & Nasrudin Abd Rahim & Norridah Amin & Zafar Said, 2022. "Global Challenges of Current Building-Integrated Solar Water Heating Technologies and Its Prospects: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-42, July.
    15. 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).
    16. Mohammadpour, Javad & Salehi, Fatemeh & Sheikholeslami, Mohsen & Lee, Ann, 2022. "A computational study on nanofluid impingement jets in thermal management of photovoltaic panel," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 970-982.
    17. 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).
    18. Firoozzadeh, Mohammad & Shiravi, Amir Hossein & Lotfi, Marzieh & Aidarova, Saule & Sharipova, Altynay, 2021. "Optimum concentration of carbon black aqueous nanofluid as coolant of photovoltaic modules: A case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    19. V. Tirupati Rao & Y. Raja Sekhar, 2023. "Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal (PVT) Collector Systems With Different Absorber Configurations For Thermal Management – A Review," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(3), pages 690-735, May.
    20. 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.

    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:renene:v:241:y:2025:i:c:s096014812402264x. 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/renewable-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.