Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
structural/geometrical parameters of the PV/T modules including the constitution,
connection, geometrical shape and sizes; and (3) recommend the favourite oper-
ational conditions, e.g. fluid flow rate, temperature, pressure.
Theoretical works done so far cover (1) simple analytical model addressing heat
transfer and heat balance across different parts of the PV/T modules and module-
based energy system (Hendrie
1980
); (2) one-dimensional thermal model derived
from the conventional solar thermal flat-plate collectors with inclusion of PV
electrical yields (Raghuraman
1981
); (3) two/three-dimensional model addressing
the energy transfer and distribution across the PV/T modules and the module-
based energy system (Zondag et al.
2002
); (4) transient energy model simulating
the dynamic characteristics of the PV/T modules and module-based system
(Chow
2003
); and (5) energy and exergy analytical models to study the overall
energy performance of the integrated systems (Anand and Tiwaria
2007
).
In summary, established theoretical models have sufficient breadth and depth to
reveal the nature of the technology and predict its performance and further opti-
mise the system's configuration and suggest the favourite operational conditions.
The further work on this methodology category may fall into the system's dynamic
performance study under long-term operational conditions, e.g. seasonally and
annually scheme.
Experimental and Combined Modelling/Experimental Study
Experimental study, running from individual modules to whole system scheme,
measured various operational parameters including temperature, flow, heat and
power conversion rates. The aims are to (1) reveal the real performance of the PV/
T components and the whole system under the specified operational conditions; (2)
examine the reliability and accuracy of the established computer model and pro-
vide the clues for further tuning and modification to the model; and (3) establish
the correlation between the theoretical analysis and practical application.
Experimental and combined modelling/experimental works done so far cover
(1) PV electrical efficiency and its relevance with various operational parameters,
particularly with PV cells temperature (Huang et al.
2001
); (2) heat-removal
effectiveness of the various cooling mediums, e.g. air, water, refrigerant and heat
pipe fluids (Solanki et al.
2009
); (3) temperature and fluid flow characteristics of
the PV/T modules and module-based energy system (Jin et al.
2010
, Cristofar-
i
2009
); (4) thermal and electrical conversation rates of the PV/T modules and the
module-based energy system (He et al.
2006
); (5) comparison between the mod-
elling results and experimental data and error analysis (Ji et al.
2009
); and (6)
validation, accuracy analysis, tuning and modification of the computer model
(Tiwari and Sodha
2006
).
In summary, experiment and combined modelling/experimental works done are
also very substantial and have found good agreement with most theoretical results.
These works also provided the feasible approach to lead the theoretical findings
towards the practical application. The further work may lie in the measurement of
the system's dynamic performance under long-term operational conditions, e.g.
seasonal and annual scheme.
