Numerical Study on the Optimization Design of Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) Collector with Internal Corrugated Channels

Abstract

This study presents a theoretical study on the super thin and conductive thermal absorber with built-in corrugated channels on the basis of previous field experiments. The flow and heat transfer characteristics of the corrugated channels are simulated to identify the factors affecting photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system efficiency. The influences of the structural parameters such as the corrugation number, the corrugation area, and the flow channel width on the water outlet temperature and heat collection are discussed in order to support the structural optimization design of the hybrid PV/T system. The simulation results were validated to be in good agreement with experimental results. The results indicate that increasing inlet water velocity leads to a decrease in the outlet temperature. It was found that the corrugation area and the flow channel width have impacts on the outlet temperature of the hybrid PV/T collector panel. When the flow channel width of the absorber plate is reduced from 4 mm to 3 mm, the outlet temperature attained is between 298 and 302 K, and the heat collection is in the range of 16.2–51.4 MJ/h. This led to an increase in the amount of heat collected by 18.6%.

Performance Evaluation and Cost Analysis of Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) System Using the Triangular Shape of Absorber with Different Water-based Nanofluids as Coolants

“…It also finds out the pressure drop of the flow channel and maximum pressure drop achieved by rectangular column grooves compared with semi-cylinder and triangular column-shaped grooves. Kong et al (2022) optimize the design of the PVT collector with internal corrugated channels and observe the influencing parameters such as the corrugation number, area, and the flow channel width on the exit temperature of the hybrid PVT system and found that the width of the absorber plate is reduced the exit temperature is increased. Khan et al (2022) conducted an experimental study to examine the effectiveness of a PVT system with a serpentine tube employing Fe3O4/w, SiO2/w, and Fe3O4/SiO2 nanofluids at volume portions of 3% wt at varied flow rates of 20, 30, and 40 LPM and achieved the most significant electricity efficiency is 12.6%, 18.46%, and 24.3%, respectively at 40 LPM.…”