Numerical simulation and experimental validation of a high concentration photovoltaic/thermal module based on point-focus Fresnel lens

Ning Xu, Jie Ji, Wei Sun, Wenzhu Huang, Jing Li and Zhuling Jin

Applied Energy, 2016, vol. 168, issue C, 269-281

Abstract: Characteristics of a high concentration photovoltaic/thermal (HCPV/T) module equipped with point-focus Fresnel lens have been investigated in this paper. Both electrical and thermal models of the module are developed by numerical methods. The electrical model is based on the Shockley diode equation, and the thermal model is grounded on a two-dimensional steady-state heat transfer model. Influences of environmental parameters and coolant water are considered in the models. The inputs of the models consist of irradiance, ambient temperature, wind speed, water temperature and mass flow rate. The outputs mainly include electrical efficiency and thermal efficiency. The simulated results are compared with experimental results and a great agreement is obtained. By the virtue of the validated models, influences of different parameters on module performance are analyzed in detail. The results show that an electrical efficiency of 28% and a thermal efficiency of 60% can be obtained by the HCPV/T module. The electrical efficiency is mainly influenced by solar irradiation rather than cell temperature. The thermal efficiency increases with the increment of irradiance, ambient temperature and water mass flow rate. On the contrary, increasing water temperature and wind speed will lower the thermal efficiency. Also, the HCPV/T module can produce hot water as high as 70°C without decreasing the electrical efficiency seriously.

Keywords: High concentration; Photovoltaic/thermal; Numerical simulation; Modeling and behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261916300642
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:168:y:2016:i:c:p:269-281

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.01.077

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().