Experimental study of a hybrid solar photovoltaic, thermoelectric and thermal module

Abstract

Nowadays, solar energy, which can be photovoltaic and thermal, is a clean and reliable source of energy for the production of electric and thermal power. However, new ways for improving photovoltaic efficiency are fundamental for an extensive application of this technology. Most of the energy absorbed by the PV panel converts itself into heat, which usually is lost and does not have any energetic value. The performance of a combined photovoltaic (PV), thermoelectric generator (TEG) and water heating panel is tested in practice. The thermoelectric set is applied on the back of the PV panel so that the two devices have approximately the same temperature. On the other face of the thermoelectric set, there is the water heating panel, which consists of an aluminium heat exchanger specially designed for this hybrid module. The exposed surface of the hybrid panel has an area of about 2.72 dm2. Experimental tests were conducted in direct solar exposure during July. The experimental results indicate that the maximum global module efficiency was 91.3% for an irradiance of 1089 W/m2. The power peak production was 29.7 W, at 2 p.m., with an irradiance value of 1230 W/m2.

Solar photovoltaic/thermal air collector with mirrors for optimal tilts

“…The laws of astronomical and geometrical components include the latitude of the localized area, the hour, and the number of days in the year controlling energy received from the sun onto a surface, therefore it is necessary to identify the sun's position by the parameters that characterize it: solar declination, is the angle 2276 defined as the angle from a plane perpendicular to the incoming solar radiation to the Earth's axis of rotation, calculated by (1). The local hour angle, is a zero angle at solar noon, and rises westward for every 15° of longitude by one hour, which can be calculated by (2).…”

“…In a world that suffers from a very high energy demands, the ideal solution for the production of electricity is solar energy with these two forms: photovoltaic and thermal, which is considered the safest, cleanest, and most economical source to overcome the energy deficit. The major part of the energy consumed by the photovoltaic panel is converted to thermal energy since they convert only 6-15% of the total incident energy [1], most of the radiation is converted into waste heat, which leads to a higher operating temperature and thus a decrease in photovoltaic efficiency and subsequent degradation of panel performance. To increase thermal as well as electrical energy of the collectors and to optimize the performance of the collector, various techniques have been adopted, however, their impact is not very significant.…”