Energy matrices evaluation of a conventional and modified partially covered photovoltaic thermal collector

Abstract

Partially covered photovoltaic thermal collector (PVT-C) unit has the capability of generating high thermal energy/exergy and a meaningful electrical energy. This study is aimed to modify the traditional unit of PVT-C to improve energy, exergy, and electrical energy generation capability by replacing a flat absorber plate with a wavy absorber plate. A wavy absorber plate is integrated with the partially covered PVT-C unit (PVT-WPC unit) and compared with the partially covered PVT-C unit having a flat absorber plate (PVT-FPC unit). These two units are compared with the yearly values of overall energy and exergy generation capability at an airflow rate of 0.03 kg/s. This work aims to reveal the viability of the modified unit in terms of energy matrices. The findings reveal that the partially covered PVT-WPC units generate 1%, 10.9%, and 14.9% higher yearly net electrical energy, overall energy, and overall exergy than the partially covered PVT-FPC unit. In terms of yearly overall energy and overall exergy, the partially covered PVT-WPC units have achieved 8.7% and 12.5% lower energy payback time (EPBT) and 10.9% and 14.9% higher CO2 mitigation as compared to the partially covered PVT-FPC unit.