Modeling and detailed study of hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) solar collector

A vast evolution to renewable energy resources such as solar energy is the best option for alleviating poverty in developing countries where the majority of people do not have access to modern forms of energy. Renewable energy resources, due to their inherent decentralized nature can largely contribute to resolve the energetic problems. Among these techniques and technologies for the exploitation of this solar energy, the Photovoltaic conversion is known to produce electricity; and thermal collectors that provide heating energies. The two systems are independent and different, but there are not compatible, that can be completed using a hybrid design that allows using both techniques, thermal and electrical, in the process called (PV/T). The hybrid solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) offers an interesting option now because the absorbed solar radiation is converted into electric energy and heat (the conversion can be done simultaneously or separately). In this paper, the mathematical model is presented; the studied system consists of a photovoltaic panel for the production of electricity, with a thermal system for water heating. It is constituted by a sheet and tube placed below the surface on which the solar cells are assembled to extract heat from the photovoltaic module, in order to cool the cells and to increasing their electric efficiency. This phenomenon is due to the unobserved part by cells. This model is based on the equations of the energy balances written for the various nodes of the system, and the coupled differential equations obtained are solved by using the finite difference method. The temperatures of the various layers of solar PV/T Collector and the coolant temperature are predicted. The objective of this work is to study theoretically and experimentally the hybrid (PV/T) Collector. The fluid flow and heat transfer in the module are studied using the ANSYS14 Software. The heat transfer phenomenon conjugate between the photovoltaic cells and the coolant is modeled using the FLUENT Software. The transfer of heat by the solar radiation is not modeled; however, the effects of radiation are taken into consideration when calculating the conditions for heat flux limit for the Collector layers. The geometric model and fluid domain for the CFD analysis is generated using ANSYS software Design Modeler, mesh geometry is carried out by ANSYS Meshing Software. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.