Experimental Investigation of Single Pass, Double Duct Photovoltaic Thermal (PV/T) Air Collector with CPC and Fins

Abstract

The temperature of photovoltaic modules increases when it absorbs solar radiation, causing a decrease in efficiency. This undesirable effect can be partially avoided by applying a heat recovery unit with fluid circulation (air or water) with the photovoltaic module. Such unit is called photovoltaic/thermal collector (pv/t) or hybrid (pv/t). An experimental investigation of a solar air heater with photovoltaic cell located at the absorber with compound parabolic collector (CPC) and fins have been developed and tested. The performance of the photovoltaic, thermal and combined pv/t collector over range of operating conditions and the results was discussed. Results at solar irradiance of 400 W/m2 showed that the combined pv/t efficiency is increasing from 27.50 % to 40.044 % at mass flow rates various from 0.0316 to 0.09 kg^-1 s.