Performance analysis of thermosyphon hybrid photovoltaic thermal collector

Authors

  • N. Marc-Alain Mutombo University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Freddie Inambao University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Glen Bright University of KwaZulu-Natal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2016/v27i1a1564

Keywords:

photovoltaic, thermal collector, storage tank, temperature, power output, efficiency, simulation

Abstract

The conversion of solar irradiance into electricity by a photovoltaic module (PV) is 6– 7% of the incoming energy from the sun depending on the type of technology and the environmental parameters. More than 80% of incoming energy from the sun is reflected or absorbed by the solar module. The fraction of energy absorbed increases with solar cell temperature and the cells’ efficiency drops as a consequence. The efficiency of a PV module is improved by combining a PV module and a thermal collector in one unit, resulting in a hybrid photovoltaic and thermal collector (PV/T). The purpose of this paper is to present the behavior a thermosyphon hybrid PV/T when exposed to variations of environmental parameters and to demonstrate the advantage of cooling photovoltaic modules with water using a rectangular channel profile for the thermal collector. A single glazed flat-box absorber PV/T module was designed, its behavior for different environmental parameters tested, the numerical model developed, and the simulation for particular days for Durban weather run. The simulation result showed that the overall efficiency of the PV/T module was 38.7% against 14.6% for a standard PV module while the water temperature in the storage tank reached 37.1 °C. This is a great encouragement to the marketing of the PV/T technology in South Africa particularly during summer, and specifically in areas where the average annual solar irradiance is more than 4.70 kWh/m²/day.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Agarwal R.K. and Garg, H.P. (1994). Study of a photovoltaic- thermal system thermosyphonic solar water heater combined with solar cells. Energy Conversion and Management, 35, 605-620.

Arunchala U.C. (2011). Performance deterioration of thermosiphon solar flat plate water heater due to scaling. IIUM Engineering Journal, Special Issue, Mechanical Engineering.

Bekker, B. (2007). Irradiation and PV array energy output, cost, and optimal positioning estimation for South Africa, Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 18(2), 16-25.

Bellingham, B., Davies, G. and Human, A. (2009). Greening Durban 2010. eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Bergene, T. and Lovvik, O.M. (1995). Model calculations on a flat-plate solar heat collector with integrated solar cells. Solar Energy 1995; 55(6), 453-462. DOI:10.1016/0038-092X(95)00072-Y.

Chow T.T. (2003). Performance analysis of photovoltaic thermal collector by explicit dynamic model. Solar Energy, 75(2), 143-152. DOI:10.1016/j.solener. 2003.07.001.

Chow, T.T. (2010). A review on photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar technology. Applied Energy, 87, 365-379. A review on photovoltaic/ thermal hybrid solar technology. DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.06.037.

Coventry J.S. and Lovegrove K. (2003). Development of an approach to compare the ‘value’ of electric and thermal output from a domestic PV/thermal system. Solar Energy, 75(1), 63-72. DOI:10.1016/S0038-092X(03)00231-7.

Cox III, C.H. and Raghuraman P. (1985). Design considerations for flat-plate-photovoltaic/thermal collectors. Solar Energy, 35(3), 227-421. DOI: 10.1155/2012/957847

Florida Solar Energy Center (FESC). (2010). FSEC Standard 203-10: Procedures for photovoltaic system design review and approval. University of Central Florida, Cocoa, Florida.

Florschuetz L.W. (1979). Extension of the Hottel-Whillier model to the analysis of combined photovoltaic/thermal flat plate collectors. Solar Energy, 22, 361-366. DOI:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.401-403.146

Garg H.P. and Agarwal P.K. (1995). Some aspects of a PV/T collector/forced circulation flat plate solar water heater with solar cells. Energy Conversion and Management, 36, 87-99.

Garg, H.P., Agarwal, R.K. and Joshi, J.C. (1994). Experimental study on a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar water heater and its performance predictions. Energy Conversion and Management, 35, 621-633.

Huang, B.J., Lin, T.H., Hung, W.C, and Sun F.S. (2001). Performance evaluation of solar photovoltaic/thermal systems. Solar Energy 70(5), 443-448. DOI:10.1016/S0038-092X(00)00153-5.

Mattei, M. Notton, G., Cristofari, C., Muselli, M. and Poggiand P. (2006). Calculation of the polycrystalline PV module temperature using a simple method of energy balance. Journal of Renewable Energy, 31(4), 553-567. DOI:10.1016/j.renene.2005.03.010.

Raghuraman P. (1981). Analytical predictions of liquid and air photovoltaic/thermal, flat-plate collector performance. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, 103, 291-298. DOI:10.1115/1.3266256.

Sandnes, B, Rekstad J. (2002). A photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector with a polymer absorber plateexperimental study and analytical model. Solar Energy, 72(1), 63-73. DOI:10.1016/S0038-092X(01)00091-3.

Suri M., Cebecauer T., Skoczek A. and Betak, J. (2012). Solar electricity production from fixed-inclined and sun-tracking c-Si photovoltaic modules in South Africa. 1st Southern African Solar Energy Conference (SASEC), 21-23 May, Stellenbosch.

Wolf M. (1976). Performance analysis of combined heating and photovoltaic power systems for residences. Energy Conversion and Management, 16, 79-90.

Wenham, S.R., Green, M.A., Watt, M.E. and Corkish, R. (2007). Applied photovoltaics. 2nd ed. Padstow, Cornwall, UK: TJ International Ltd. pp. 22-23; 128-129.

Zawilska E. and Brooks M.J. (2011). Solar energy measurement on the South Africa east coast. World Renewable Energy Congress, Linköping, Sweden.

Zondag H.A, De Vries D.W, Van Helden WGJ, Van Zolingen RJC, Van Steenhoven AA. (2003). The yield of different combined PV-thermal collector designs. Solar Energy, 74, 253-269. DOI:10.1016/S0038-092X(03)00121-X.

Zondag H.A., de Vries, D.W., van Helden, W.G.J., van Zolingen, R.J.C. and van Steenhoven, A.A. (2002). The thermal and electrical yield of a PV-thermal collector. Solar Energy, 72(2), 113-128. DOI:10.1016/S0038-092X(01)00094-9.

Downloads

Published

2016-03-23

How to Cite

Marc-Alain Mutombo, N., Inambao, F., & Bright, G. (2016). Performance analysis of thermosyphon hybrid photovoltaic thermal collector. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 27(1), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2016/v27i1a1564