Analysis on the Performance of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) Based Photovoltaic Thermal

Afzam Zulkepli,Mohd Yusof Taib,Firdaus Basrawi,Lim Wei Yong,Zafri Azran,Z.A Abdul Karim,Md M Rahman,M Mat Noor,M.F Basrawi,Z Hj Baharudin

doi:10.1051/matecconf/20163802004

Afzam Zulkepli, Mohd Yusof Taib + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/20163802004

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Abstract

This paper deals with the efficiency improvement of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) Photovoltaic (PV) and also solar thermal collector. Photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) can improve overall efficiency for PV and also solve the problem of limited roof space at urban area. Objective of this study is to clarify the effect of mass flow rate on the efficiency of the PV/T system. A CIGS solar cell is used with rated output power 65 W and 1.18 m 2 of area. 4 set of experiments were carried out, which were: thermal collector with 0.12 kg/s flow rate, PV/T with 0.12 kg/s flow rate, PV/T with 0.09 kg/s flow rate and PV. It was found that PV/T with 0.12 kg/s flow rate had the highest electrical efficiency, 2.92 %. PV/T with 0.09 kg/s flow rate had the lowest electrical efficiency, 2.68 %. It also had 2 % higher overall efficiency. The efficiency gained is low due to several factors. The rated output power of the PV is low for the area of 1.18 m 2 . The packing factor of the PV also need to be considered as it may not be operated at the optimal packing factor. Furthermore, aluminium sheet of the PV may affect the PV temperature due to high thermal conductivity. Further study on more values of mass flow rate and also other parameters that affect the efficiency of the PV/T is necessary.

Highlights

Concerns on depletion of current reserved oil and worsening environmental problem have encouraged research towards green power generation
A Photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) collector is a module that combining PV with solar thermal collector [2]
Efficiency of photovoltaic cell and thermal collector is strongly related with ambient temperature and irradiance value

Summary

Introduction

Concerns on depletion of current reserved oil and worsening environmental problem have encouraged research towards green power generation. PV generates electricity from solar radiation through photoelectric effect, while solar thermal collector will absorb solar radiation and convert the energy into thermal energy [3]. The thermal energy will be transferred to internal fluid thermal energy. In this way both heat and power are produced simultaneously [4]. The rest of energy will be wasted and converted into heat energy to rise up PV temperature and reduce the efficiency of PV [5]. Temperature of PV module can be reduced and can maintain electrical efficiency [7]. PV/T module offers a better way of utilizing solar energy with higher overall efficiency[8]

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