Performance Evaluation of a Hybrid Thermal–Photovoltaic Panel

Abstract

A theoretical and experimental analysis of a thermal-photovoltaic panel, whose purpose is to produce both electrical and thermal energy, has been performed. In order to achieve the main objective, the different components that constitute the thermal-photovoltaic panel have been studied and a simulation model of the thermal-photovoltaic panel has been developed. Furthermore, a prototype of the whole system, consisting of a commercial panel, the thermal and electrical circuits and an innovative wireless remote data acquisition system has been setup. The latter, based on an open-source electronic platform, has the necessary accuracy, and remote data capture and flexibility features. The model has been carefully calibrated and the simulated results, based on the solar irradiance, the ambient temperature and the wind speed, have been compared with experimental data. The results are analyzed and discussed in the paper. Such a validated model can be used to establish if and when it is more convenient to use a hybrid structure rather than two separate devices (PV only and thermal collector only).

Trigeneration system driven by the geothermal and solar sources

“…The economic feasibility of such plants should be evaluated case by case, especially regarding PV‐Ts [26, 43], anyway the latter are always an interesting solution if there is a commitment to the use of renewable energies, even in the presence of strict space and/or visual impact constraints. Further technological and commercial development could guarantee higher revenues in a short time span.…”

“…4, is constituted by an adsorption machine with a cooling capacity ranging from 3 to 11 kW, a thermal buffer simulating the geothermal source; a hot water storage tank simulating the load; an open circuit cooling tower where the re‐cooling water coming from the adsorption machine loses part of its thermal energy; control and measuring equipment composed of flow meters for measuring the mass flow rate (accuracy of ±3%) and temperature sensors (stability of ±0.05%); three pumps; current transducers (accuracy of ±1%); voltage transducers (accuracy of ); CMP3 pyranometer for measuring the solar irradiation (tilt error <2% and temperature dependence of sensitivity <5%) and a PV‐T field, composed of two series strings of five PV‐T panels each (Fig. 5), deeply analysed in [26].…”

“…In this study, the mathematical model of PV‐Ts was developed, merging the widely used 1D Hottel–Whillier thermal model [22, 23] and a one‐diode PV cell model [24, 25] to simulate the thermal effects and PV electrical power, respectively [26].…”

Extracting Technical Specifications of a Solar Panel Type to Design a 10 MW Hybrid Power Plant

“…The absorption of solar panel heat has two advantages: first, it increases electrical power, and secondly, it increases the final efficiency. Using Equations (8) to (17), we calculate the amount of heat absorbed by the panel [28].…”

Performance evaluation of a hybrid thermal-photovoltaic panel

“…In this paper, the mathematical model for the PV-T was developed merging the widely used one-dimensional Hottel-Whillier model [13][14] and a one-diode model [15][16] to simulate the thermal effects and the PV electrical power, respectively [17]. The model has been implemented in the Matlab/Simulink software environment and validated evaluating the PV-T performance of a panel commercially available equipped with a remote-access acquisition system to provide real-time data monitoring.…”