Analysis of thermal and electrical efficiency of photovoltaic/thermal – PV/T modules operating in moderate climate at microscale

Abstract

The paper presents an application concept for PV/T - Photovoltaic Thermal Technology in moderate climates (such as the Polish climate), at a micro scale, i.e. for a single family house. The paper analyses the operation of a PV/T system applied to Domestic Hot Water – DHW heating and electricity production. A mathematical model of the system operation has been developed. The paper focuses on modeling thermal and electrical efficiency of photovoltaic/thermal - PV/T modules. It also briefly presents the governing equations for the thermal energy balance of a storage tank, where thermal stratification effects take place. Some selected results of the numerical simulation of the PV/T system operation are described. Daily distribution of hourly averaged thermal and electrical efficiency of the PV/T modules without cover and with one glazing are presented. The PV/T systems do not give significant thermal energy output in winter. PV/T modules without glazing do not supply heat at all for three winter months, their highest thermal efficiency is in summer and it can be nearly 15%. In the same period glazed modules have efficiency equal to nearly 24%. However, the unglazed modules can give much more electrical energy in summer than those with glazing, and the electrical efficiency can reach the levels of 11.4% and 9.4%, respectively. In winter the difference is smaller, i.e. for unglazed the efficiency is 12.2%, and for glazed 11.2%.