Spectral-splitting hybrid PV-thermal (PV-T) solar collectors employing semi-transparent solar cells as optical filters

Huang, Gan; Markides, Christos N.

doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114776

Cited by 38 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…At an extreme scenario of w = 1.0, the thermal energy is equivalent to the generated electricity, e.g., electric heater, and thus the SSH window produces the highest efficiency of around 24%, which is comparable to conventional non‐transparent PV/T systems. [ 17 ] .This demonstrates that the SSH window holds great potential for building‐integrated solar energy harvesting and indoor space heating.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Selective Solar Harvesting Windows for Full‐Spectrum Utilization

Lin

Huang

et al. 2022

Advanced Science

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Smart windows can selectively regulate excess solar radiation to reduce heating and cooling energy consumption in the built environment. However, the inevitable dissipation of ultraviolet and near-infrared into waste heat results in inefficient solar utilization. Herein, a dual-band selective solar harvesting (SSH) window is developed to realize full-spectrum utilization. A transparent photovoltaic, converting ultraviolet into electricity, and a transparent solar absorber, converting near-infrared into thermal energy, are integrated and coupled with a ventilation system to extract heat for indoor use. Compared with common transparent photovoltaics, the SSH window increases solar harvesting efficiency up to threefold while maintaining a considerable visible transmittance. Simulations suggest that the SSH window, besides generating electricity, delivers energy savings by over 30% higher than common smart windows. This is the first integration of transparent photovoltaic and transparent solar absorber into a window, which may open up a new avenue for the development of energy-efficient buildings.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Selective Solar Harvesting Windows for Full‐Spectrum Utilization

Lin

Huang

et al. 2022

Advanced Science

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“…For thermally-coupled collectors, higher fluid temperatures result in both a lower electrical efficiency as well as a greater risk of damage to the PV cells [54,55]. Thermally-decoupled spectral-splitting collectors [56], or partially-laminated collectors [57], are two approaches to mitigate these issues. One recent solution that utilises readily available collectors employs PV-T and ST collectors connected in series such that high output temperatures from the collector system can be achieved whilst reducing the output temperature of the PV-T collectors and hence the temperature of the PV cells [58].…”

Section: Solar Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifetime optimisation of integrated thermally- and electrically-driven solar desalination plants

Markides,

Winchester,

Huang

et al. 2023

Preprint

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We compare the performance across different locations of systems employing photovoltaic (PV) panels, flat-plate and evacuated-tube solar-thermal (ST), and hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) collectors to fulfil the energy demands (both thermal and electrical) of multi-effect distillation (MED) desalination plants. We consider large- (1700 m3/day), medium- (120 m3/day) and small-scale (3 m3/day) MED plants. We find a strong dependence of both the capacity and configuration of the solar collectors used on both the cost of sourcing electricity from the grid and the specific collector employed. We find mean grid-electricity fractions range from 47%, for the lowest grid-cost location, to 2.5% for the highest grid-cost location. We find that systems using PV-T and ST collectors meet between 49% and 62% of the hot-water demand at these locations, respectively. We find lifetime costs for the smallest-, medium- and largest-scale plants' energy-generation systems as low as 0.209, 3.35 and 50.8 million USD, respectively, corresponding to specific costs of 6.37, 2.55 and 2.74 USD/m3. We find that systems using solar collectors, when optimised for the lowest specific cost, result in associated CO2eq emissions equal to, or higher than, those associated with grid-driven reverse osmosis. These results highlight the need to consider the environmental footprint of these systems, not only their cost, to ensure that desalination is in-line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6).

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“…This study reported that the PVTC, which was proposed in their study, provided the highest primary energy efficiency when the PV cells occupied 50% of its total surface area. Huang and Markides [18] fabricated a PVTC using a semitransparent PV cell and solar thermal absorber to produce low-and high-temperature fluids simultaneously in a single system. Their research proved that the proposed PVTC successfully generated low-and high-temperature fluids, and the electrical efficiency and thermal efficiencies for low-and high-temperature heats were 13.8%, 22.5%, and 21.5%, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrical and Thermal Performances of a Single-Pass Double-Flow Photovoltaic-Thermal Collector Coupled with Nonuniform Cross-Section Rib

Choi

2023

International Journal of Energy Research

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The air-based photovoltaic-thermal collector (PVTC) is a system that can generate electricity and heated air simultaneously from solar energy. This study investigates the electrical and thermal performances of an air-based single-pass double-flow photovoltaic-thermal collector (SPDFPVTC) coupled with a nonuniform cross-section rib (NUCSR) under various operating conditions. The rib is installed at the rear of the photovoltaic panel to enhance the heat transfer performance between the photovoltaic panel and the flowing air. Based on the energy balance equations, a mathematical model of the proposed SPDFPVTC is established and validated by experimental results. The solar intensity, air mass flow rate, and wind speed are selected as operating conditions. The effects of these operating conditions on the electrical and thermal performance of the SPDFPVTC have been discussed. In addition, this study evaluates the daily performance of SPDFPVTC with and without NUCSR. The average electrical, thermal, and overall efficiency were 17.59%, 43.96%, and 61.55%, respectively, for SPDFPVTC with NUCSR and 16.97%, 38.87%, and 55.83%, respectively, for SPDFPVTC without NUCSR. Consequently, installing NUCSR could enhance the daily electrical, thermal, and overall energy output of SPDFPVTC by 4.33%, 13.23%, and 10.63%, respectively.

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Spectral-splitting hybrid PV-thermal (PV-T) solar collectors employing semi-transparent solar cells as optical filters

Cited by 38 publications

References 54 publications

Selective Solar Harvesting Windows for Full‐Spectrum Utilization

Selective Solar Harvesting Windows for Full‐Spectrum Utilization

Lifetime optimisation of integrated thermally- and electrically-driven solar desalination plants

Electrical and Thermal Performances of a Single-Pass Double-Flow Photovoltaic-Thermal Collector Coupled with Nonuniform Cross-Section Rib

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