Implementation and Experimental Validation of a Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) Collector Model in TRNSYS

Abstract

Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors are hybrid solutions for solar collectors converting solar energy in electrical and thermal energy. To figure out best solutions and new possibilities for the application of PVT collectors, system simulations are often used as first step before proving in real applications. At this, the development of well-validated PVT collector models is an important task. This contribution presents the implementation of a performance model for the electrical part of PVT collectors in TRNSYS, which can be coupled to existing models of solar thermal collectors for the simulation of hybrid PVT collectors, and first results of the model validation with experimental measurements of three different PVT collectors. Furthermore, a parameter identification process with TRNSYS and GenOpt for a coupled PVT collector model is introduced and described in detail. In addition, a comparison of the electrical model with a four-parameter (single diode) PV model is presented to figure out if its implementation will improve the accuracy of the simulation results. The presented results pointed out that the PVT model in combination with the proposed parameter identification process achieves a good agreement of simulated and measured thermal and electrical power output for the analyzed PVT collector types and operating conditions.

Forecast Quality of Physics-Based and Data-Driven PV Performance Models for a Small-Scale PV System

“…Refer to the repository on GitHub 4 for details. Note that the model does not constitute an original contribution; it is merely an implementation of existing models in the Modelica language and largely based on Jonas et al (2018) and the description of the modeling steps provided by the Performance Modeling Collaborative (2020).…”

Status Quo of PVT Characterization

“…The main idea behind this model, which is based on the work of [M. Lämmle et al 2017] and[D. Jonas et al 2018b], is the development of a PVT performance model, which connects the quasi-dynamic thermal collector model of ISO 9806 with a PV performance model via a two-node model, which couples the cell node with the fluid node via the an internal heat transfer coefficient U PVT (see Figure 6).…”