Experimental investigation and modeling of a direct-coupled PV/T air collector
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman (Iran, Islamic Republic of)
Photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems refer to the integration of photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies into one single system, in that both useful heat energy and electricity are produced. The impetus of this paper is to model a direct-coupled PV/T air collector which is designed, built, and tested at a geographic location of Kerman, Iran. In this system, a thin aluminum sheet suspended at the middle of air channel is used to increase the heat exchange surface and consequently improve heat extraction from PV panels. This PV/T system is tested in natural convection and forced convection (with two, four and eight fans operating) and its unsteady results are presented in with and without glass cover cases. A theoretical model is developed and validated against experimental data, where good agreement between the measured values and those calculated by the simulation model were achieved. Comparisons are made between electrical performance of the different modes of operation, and it is concluded that there is an optimum number of fans for achieving maximum electrical efficiency. Also, results show that setting glass cover on photovoltaic panels leads to an increase in thermal efficiency and decrease in electrical efficiency of the system. (author)
- OSTI ID:
- 21379833
- Journal Information:
- Solar Energy, Journal Name: Solar Energy Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 84; ISSN 0038-092X; ISSN SRENA4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BLOWERS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COVERINGS
Direct-coupled systems
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FORCED CONVECTION
GLASS
HEAT EXTRACTION
IRAN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATURAL CONVECTION
PANELS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
PV/T collectors
SIMULATION
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
THERMAL EFFICIENCY