Investigational Analysis of Two Specially Designed Heat Exchangers used in Hybrid Solar Water System

Abstract

Hybrid photovoltaic /thermal (PV/T) solar water system is a combined solar photovoltaic module and solar thermal collector, forming a device that generates electrical and thermal energy from a single integrated unit. The overall performance of any hybrid system depends on selection of heat exchanger configurations i.e. shape, size; and its materials. This paper offers design and performance analysis of two specially designed configurations namely oscillatory and spiral flow heat exchangers used in hybrid solar water system. The investigational results like performance efficiencies of photovoltaic, thermal, and combined PV/T system for both heat exchangers over a range of operating conditions are discussed and assessed for latitude of Mumbai. The final results showed that, for same water flow rate; copper spiral flow heat exchanger generated 68.20% combined PV/T efficiency and aluminium oscillatory flow heat exchanger produced 65.30% combined PV/T efficiency. At peak PV power point condition; the PV power and efficiency produced by both heat exchangers were found equal.