ENHANCEMENT OF THE OUTPUT POWER GENERATED FROM A HYBRID SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM

Abstract

This paper investigates the output power and increa sed the efficiency of a hybrid Photovoltaic/ Therma l (PV/T) modules through utilizing the heat generated from the surface of pa nels by one axial tracking of the hybrid PV/Tsystem by means of zenith angle and decreasing the heat generated from the PV modules bthe flow rate of the system. A compar ison between theoretical and experimental work results for fixed and tracking PV /T hybrid system is presented. Comsol software pac kage used to simulate the electromagnetic waves produced by the sun through sMaxwell's equations in three dimensions and the sun irradiance is assumed to be Gaussian distribution across the twel ve mourning hours. Beside that an experimental work is presented depending on the results conjured from the theoretical experienc e used in Comsol Multiphysics In the second part of the experimental work, one axial sun-tracking system is designed where the mov ement of a photo-voltaic module is controlled to fo llow the Sun’s radiation using a Data acquisition card (DAQ) unit. Finally an acti ve cooling system is designed and conducted to cool the fixed and tracking modules at which an absorber system consists of cop per pipe welded with aluminium plate is attached un derneath the PV modules to allow water flowing below the modules. In addition to the above an electrical analysis for both system s are presented where I-V, P-V, power with 12 mourning hour’s and electrical effici ency. Beside that the thermal analysis for the fixe d and tracking PV modules and the piping water are presented where the input, out put temperatures, the total energy of heat losses a nd thermal efficiency are calculated. As a result, a significant enhancement in the total electrical efficiency is observed with acceptable increase in the output water temperature.