Performance improvement of a PVT system using a multilayer structural heat exchanger with PCMs

Zaiguo Fu, Xiaotian Liang, Yang Li, Lingtong Li and Qunzhi Zhu

Renewable Energy, 2021, vol. 169, issue C, 308-317

Abstract: The thermal and electrical performance of the photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) system still needs to be improved although the system has been widely applied. In this study, the performance of a multilayer-structured PVT system with phase change materials (PCMs) is investigated experimentally and numerically. The novel design of layout scheme of heat exchanger is introduced, and a detailed mathematical model of the heat transfer process and operational efficiency of the PVT system is developed. Subsequently, the temperature variation of the PVT system is simulated and verified by measurements based on an outdoor experimental system. According to the measurements and calculation by using a home-made MATLAB code, the characteristic temperature and efficiencies of the PVT system are predicted. The results show that the forecasted temperature variation of the PVT system agrees well with the practical system. The average electrical efficiency of the PVT system can increase by around 1% by using the heat exchanger with PCMs. Meanwhile, the thermal efficiency is raised due to the prolonged operation time. The composite PCM with 15% expanded graphite may enhance the comprehensive efficiency by 25.2%. Moreover, the database of the performance of practical PVT systems in East Shanghai is supplemented with measured and evaluated values.

Keywords: PVT; Solar energy; PCM; Multilayer structure; Heat exchanger (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148120320486
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:renene:v:169:y:2021:i:c:p:308-317

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.12.108

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable Energy is currently edited by Soteris A. Kalogirou and Paul Christodoulides

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