Experimental investigations on bi-symmetrical web flow water based photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) system: Energy, exergy, and entropy (3-E) analysis

Tirupati Rao V., Raja Sekhar Y., ARICI M., Ralph Pochont N., Reddy Prasad D.

Solar Energy, cilt.271, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 271
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.solener.2024.112445
  • Dergi Adı: Solar Energy
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Bi-symmetrical web flow absorber, Energy, Exergy and entropy analysis, Overall exergy efficiency, Photovoltaic thermal collector
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The photovoltaic (PV) cell temperature restricts the electrical performance of the module due to the temperature coefficient for voltage and current of cell material. Research studies performed in the past on Photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) collector systems showed exaggerated electrical output. PVT structure having a collector to absorb heat from exerted by panel at the rear surface of the PV module has proven to be the best option in controlling the module temperature. The enhancement in PV system output depends on the working fluid and its flow condition, thermal absorber configuration and ambient operating conditions. These PVT systems best suit tropical and sub-tropical climatic regions with better solar insolation levels and longer duration of sun hours where module temperatures are higher. In the present study, experimental investigations were carried out on a PVT test setup with a thermal absorber configuration with a bi-symmetrical web flow channel. To determine optimal operating conditions, water is considered a working fluid for the studies in the volume flow rates range of 0.5–2 liter per minute (LPM). A comparison of the PVT system's energy, exergy, and entropy levels with the PV module setup shows that the PVT system is more efficient overall It was found that the PVT system's maximum electrical and thermal efficiencies are 18.01 % and 63.09 %, respectively, at 2 LPM and 1.5 LPM. Under similar operating conditions, PV and PVT systems' average electrical efficiency was 16.18 % and 17.17 %, respectively. The maximum entropy generation was obtained 2.8 W/K at 1.5 LPM.