Abstract
The main goal of the study was to investigate the relationship between the orientation of the PVT (PhotoVoltaic Thermal) collector and the thermal and electric power generated. Extensive research was performed to find optimal tilt angles for hybrid solar thermal collectors, which combine photovoltaic as well as thermal collection in a single unit, known as PVT (PhotoVoltaic Thermal) modules for an office building with working hours between 7.00 and 16.00. The comprehensive study included field measurements of the modules in central Poland and tests under AM (air mass) 1.5 conditions in a certified laboratory KEZO (Centre for Energy Conversion and Renewable Resources) Polish Academy of Sciences in Jablonna. Furthermore, a PVT system was investigated using the simulation method based on the dedicated Polysun software. The PV characteristics and efficiency of the PV module and the relation between power or efficiency of the PVT module and incidence angle of solar-irradiance were studied. Optimal work conditions for commercial PVT modules were ascertained. In addition, it was found that the maximum efficiencies of PV module (ηPV), solar thermal-collector (ηc) and PVT hybrid collector (ηPVT) registered under field conditions were higher than the ones measured under laboratory conditions.
Highlights
Energy plays a vital role in daily human needs
The main goal of the study was to investigate the relationship between the orientation of the PVT (PhotoVoltaic Thermal) collector and the thermal and electric power generated
It was found that the maximum efficiencies of PV module, solar thermal-collector and PVT hybrid collector registered under field conditions were higher than the ones measured under laboratory conditions
Summary
Energy plays a vital role in daily human needs. Worldwide, energy consumption has shown rapid growth, which is the important global energy problem. PVT hybrid collector works with even higher efficiency than sum of the solar thermal collector and PV module efficiencies [2] and simultaneously produces electrical and thermal power. Dupeyrat et al [11] tested the design of a prototype single glazed flat plate PVT collector focusing on the heat transfer between PV cells and fluid [3]. The photovoltaic characteristics of the PVT module were measured under STC conditions using a class AAA steadystate solar simulator (LA150200, Eternal Sun) equipped with an AM 1.5 G filter. The mass flow rate of fluid through the solar thermal collector was set to 1.3 kg/min and was determined by an Optimass 6400 C Krohne (uncertainty ±0.1%) mass flow meter
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