Mathematical Model of Double Pass Photovoltaic Thermal Air Collector with Fins

Abstract

Problem statement: The efficiency of photovoltaic cells is generally temperature dependent (efficiency decrease when the temperature of the photovoltaic cells increase). This problem can be solved by cooling the solar cells during operation and operated at low temperature. Approach: This study presented a numerical model of double pass Photovoltaic Thermal (PV/T) solar air collector with fins attached to the back side of the absorber plate to improve heat transfer to the flowing air for predicting the performance of the system. Results: Five coupled of unsteady nonlinear partial differential equations were formulated by using first order forward scheme in time and second order central difference scheme in space to predict the performance of PV/T solar air heater at different parameters and conditions. The temperatures of the solar cells, outlet fluid temperature and the temperature distribution of every static element in both models were predicted. The performance of the collector including photovoltaic, thermal and combined PV/T collector over range of operating conditions are discussed. Conclusion: Experimental and theoretical results were compared and showed that close agreement between these two values were obtained.

A comparison study of energy and exergy performance of a hybrid photovoltaic double-pass and single-pass air collector

“…Such a system is called as double-pass HPV/T air collector (Figure 1(b)). In recent past, Othman et al [16] and Alfegi et al [17] have studied the double-pass HPV/T air collector having air flow in the same direction.…”

Theoretical Study and Experimental Validation of Energetic Performances of Photovoltaic/Thermal Air Collector

“…In the above equations, radiation and convective heat transfer coefficients are calculated using the relationships as reported in [21][22][23].…”

“…System properties and operating conditions which are employed in this study are tabulated in Table 1. The following physical properties of air are assumed to vary linearly with temperature owing to the low temperature range that can be encountered [20,23]: Equation (17) was used to calculate the outlet temperature of the hybrid PV/T air collector. The adopted mass flow rate values are equal to 0.01 kg/s, 0.02 kg/s, and 0.04 kg/s.…”

Thermal Efficiency of Double Pass Solar Collector with Longitudinal Fins Absorbers

“…Where: Nu = Nusselt number D h = the equivalence diameter of the channel Nusselt number for laminar flow region (Re<2300), transition flow region (2300<Re<6000) and turbulent flow region respectively are (Bashria et al, 2007;Alfegi et al, 2009). …”