article · e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering Electronics and Energy
This research investigates a new channel-box photovoltaic-thermal hybrid solar collector designed to improve heat dissipation and energy capture. Using finite element numerical modelling validated against existing literature, the study assesses surface temperature distribution and energy performance across various operational settings. The design incorporates a water-based heat exchanger that cools the photovoltaic surface while collecting useful thermal energy. Results indicate that the collector operates at an optimum cooling water flow rate of approximately 180 litres per hour. Under maximum tested solar irradiation, the hybrid system achieves an electrical efficiency of 12.11 percent and a thermal efficiency of 78.59 percent, reaching a combined overall efficiency of 90.7 percent. In comparison, a standalone photovoltaic panel reaches an electrical efficiency of 9.09 percent under identical solar conditions, demonstrating that integrated cooling enhances electrical output.
Standard solar panels lose electrical conversion efficiency as surface temperatures climb under intense sunlight. By integrating a dedicated water-cooling channel directly into the collector, this design simultaneously cools the panel to recover lost electrical output and harvests usable heat. This dual-purpose mechanism substantially increases the total energy extracted from a single installation footprint.
This work represents early-stage research relevant to solar component designers and manufacturers seeking to co-generate electricity and hot water. The findings identify ideal flow conditions and design parameters for channel-box heat exchangers. However, because the study is limited to validated three-dimensional numerical simulations, developing physical prototypes and conducting operational field trials will be necessary before any commercial deployment.
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Based on the latest information provided by researchers, previous studies have identified two major gaps in the literature: the lack of research on channel-box PVT collectors (PVT-Cs) and the absence of studies on the surface temperature distribution for these systems. To fill these gaps, we proposed a new channel-box PVT-C. We then numerically evaluated its performance, examining its energy aspects under various operating conditions. This evaluation was carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics® software, based on the finite element method (FEM). In addition, we validated our 3D numerical model by comparing it with numerical and experimental data in the literature. The results of this study show that increasing the fluid flow rate increases power and electrical efficiency (EE), and that the optimum cooling water flow rate is around 180 L/h. In addition, the overall efficiency (OE) increases with solar irradiation. Furthermore, the electrical power (EP) increases from 37.06 W to 140.48 W for the PV system, and from 38.45 W to 187.02 W for the PVT-C, when the irradiation increases from 2 × 102 to 103 W/m², while maintaining an optimum flow rate of 180 L/h. In terms of efficiency, the PVT-C has an electrical, thermal and overall efficiency of approximately 12.11 %, 78.59 % and 90.7 % respectively for an irradiation of 103 W/m². However, the EE of the PV panel is only 9.09 %, or 3 % less than the PVT-C.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.prime.2024.100693
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