Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Heat-pipe-based PV/T is also a relatively new technology, and its operation is
often in conjunction with a heat pump or a heat cycle. A heat-pipe-based PV/T
system can achieve maximum electrical efficiency of around 10 % and thermal
efficiency of nearly 58 %, and its performance is largely dependent on the struc-
ture/material and vacuum degree of the heat pipe, type of the heat pipe fluid,
temperature and flow rate of the secondary fluid. This system may overcome the
difficulties existing in the refrigerant-based system and become the next-genera-
tion technology for removing heat from PVs and effectively utilizing this part of
heat. However, this type of system also found some disadvantages that require
further resolutions, e.g. high cost of the heat pipes and effective control of the heat
pipe performance.
The researches established on PV/T technology were very substantial and
mainly focused on (1) revealing the nature of the energy transfer and conversation
occurring in the PV/T modules and module-based system; (2) identifying the
favourite system type; (3) optimising the structural/geometrical parameters of the
system configuration and suggesting the appropriate operational conditions; (4)
building the link between the theoretical analysis and practical application; and (5)
analysing the economic, environmental benefits of the PV/T systems and evalu-
ating their feasibility for long-term operation. All these efforts aimed to create as
much energy-efficient PV/T system as possible at the least possible cost and
simplest structure.
Although significant achievements have been completed in PV/T study, there
are still some opportunities existing for further developing this technology,
including (1) developing new feasible, economic and energy-efficient systems such
as PCM-slurry-based PV/T; (2) optimising the structural/geometrical parameters
of the existing PV/T configurations; (3) studying long-term dynamic performance
of the PV/T systems; (4) demonstration of the PV/T systems in real buildings and
feasibility study; and (5) advanced economic and environmental analysis taking
into account effect of the climatic conditions onto the performance of the system
through long-term measurement.
References
Agarwal RK, Garg HP (1994) Study of a photovoltaic-thermal system—thermosyphonic solar
water heater combined with solar cells. Energy Convers Manage 35(7):605-620
Anand SJ, Tiwaria A (2007) Energy and exergy efficiencies of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal
(PV/T) air collector. Renew Energy 32(13):2223-2241
Bergene T, Lovvik OM (1995) Model calculations on a flat plate solar heat collector with
integrated solar cells. Sol Energy 55(6):453-462
Bhargava AK, Garg HP, Agarwal RK (1991) Study of a hybrid solar system-solar air heater
combined with solar cells. Energy Convers Mgmt 31:471-479
Bosanac M, Sørensen B (2003) Photovoltaic/thermal solar collectors and their potential in
Denmark. Final Report EFP Project, 2003, 1713/00-0014
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(2009)
Statistical
Review
of
World
Energy
2009.
Assessed on 1 Nov 2011
