Research on the efficiency evaluation of heat pipe PV/T systems and its applicability in different regions of China

Abstract

As a passive heat transfer system, the heat pipe is becoming an important way to solve the problem of heat loss and heat accumulation in PV/T systems. However, the evaluation of the annual average efficiency of heat pipe PV/T systems in the existing studies does not consider the efficiency under different solar radiation and the difference in the annual solar radiation distribution in different regions. The purpose of this study is to propose a method for the annual average efficiency evaluation of heat pipe PV/T systems (AEHP method), which comprehensively considers the efficiency differences under different radiation and the distribution of solar radiation of different intensities in the typical year. The calculation results are more accurate, which will promote the reasonable evaluation and engineering application of heat pipe PV/T systems. Firstly, the dimensionless models of different radiation and their performance (photovoltaic efficiency, photothermal efficiency, and comprehensive efficiency) are established by experimental tests on the heat pipe PV/T system in this paper. Secondly, the frequencies and frequency of solar radiation in different intervals of the typical year in major cities of China are analyzed statistically, and the radiation frequency method is proposed. Thirdly, the average efficiencies of heat pipe PV/T systems in the existing literature are obtained by statistical analysis. Combined with the radiation frequency method, an annual average efficiency evaluation method of heat pipe PV/T systems (AEHP method) is proposed. The annual average efficiency of heat pipe PV/T systems in different regions is obtained. Finally, the annual heat collection and power generation of heat pipe PV/T systems are calculated based on the AEHP method, and provide a scientific and reasonable evaluation method for the promotion and application of heat pipe PV/T systems.