Abstract
In this study, a new design of photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) collector is proposed. This design uses a vacuum layer above the silicon wafer and not exists in the traditional PV/T collector. This layer is used to decrease the heat loss from the top surface of the PV/T collector. The analysis is conducted using a 3D thermal modeling. The new collector design with the vacuum layer achieved a 26.6% increase in the thermal power while keeping the electrical the same at Reynolds number of 50 and solar radiation of 1000 W/m2. In addition, the degradation of the vacuum pressure slightly influence the thermal performance while increasing the vacuum pressure from 0.01 Pa to 10 Pa. While further increase in the vacuum pressure from 10 Pa to 1.013×105 Pa substantially decreases the gained thermal power with insignificant increase in the electrical power.
Highlights
In preference to the major source of energy to our planet, solar energy is the promising source to cover the growing needs
The influence of the average solar cell temperature and cooling outlet temperature with Re number for both photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) and VPV/T collectors were depicted in Fig. 3a and b, respectively
The PV temperature is higher in the VPV/T compared to PV/T collector
Summary
In preference to the major source of energy to our planet, solar energy is the promising source to cover the growing needs. Solar radiation can be converted to both thermal and electrical energy in photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) systems [4]. In the PV/T systems, a heat sink containing water stream is attached to the backside of the PV to absorb the thermal energy generated in the photovoltaic module. This allows us to avoid excessive heating of the solar cells and to reach undesirable cell surface temperatures. It is necessary to enhance the thermal and electrical efficiencies of the PV/T system This can be attained by reducing the thermal heat loss from the top surface of the PV/T system. The effect of vacuum layer pressure on the thermal and electrical energy gain is estimated
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