Performance analysis of a concentrated photovoltaic cell-elastocaloric cooler hybrid system for power and cooling cogeneration

Abstract

A new hybrid system model comprised of a concentrated photovoltaic cell (CPC) and an elastocaloric cooler (ECC) is proposed, where the ECC is driven by the thermal energy from CPC that cannot be converted into electrical energy. Mathematical expression between the exhaust heat of CPC and the operating electric current as well as the time required for one cycle are derived. Mathematical formulas for the power output and efficiency of CPC and proposed system and the cooling rate and efficiency of ECC are specified. Calculations show that maximum energy efficiency (MEE) and maximum power density (MPD) of hybrid system are, respectively, 20.20 % and 767.47 W m−2 larger than that of the CPC alone. A variety of design parameters and operating conditions affecting the hybrid system performance are studied. Numerical calculation results show that the environmental temperature, solar irradiation, concentration ratio and cross-sectional area ratio of CPC as well as length ratio are helpful to improve the hybrid system performance. The results obtained are helpful to optimally design and run such a real CPC/ECC hybrid system.