An Updated Review of Solar Cooling Systems Driven by Photovoltaic–Thermal Collectors

Cong Jiao and Zeyu Li ()
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Cong Jiao: School of Electric Power, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Zeyu Li: School of Electric Power, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-34

Abstract: Solar cooling systems are widely used in the building sector, as they can utilize low-grade solar energy to reduce carbon emissions. To improve the thermodynamic performance and economic performance of solar cooling systems, solar cooling systems driven by photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) collectors have been widely studied. This paper reviews the recent research on the technological improvement of PVT collectors, the development of thermally driven cooling cycles, and the performance of solar cooling systems driven by PVT collectors. Innovative heat sink structures and the utilization of a high-thermal-conductivity coolant are employed to increase the solar-energy-conversion efficiency of PVT collectors. The use of thermal and mechanical two-stage compression and cascade cooling expands the lower temperature limit of the heat source required for the solar cooling cycle. In addition, specific examples of solar cooling systems driven by PVT collectors are reviewed to explore their thermodynamic and economic performance. Finally, the technical developments in and prospects of different types of PVT collectors and solar cooling systems are explored in an attempt to provide some insight to researchers. This study shows that the PVT collector’s electrical and thermal efficiencies can be improved by 0.85–11% and 1.9–22.02%, compared to those of conventional PV systems and PVT systems based on water cooling, respectively. Furthermore, the lower limit of the heat source temperature for the new thermally driven cooling system expands by 4–20 °C. Finally, the performances of solar cooling systems driven by PVT collectors show a minimum payback period of 8.45–9.3 years, which proves favorable economic feasibility.

Keywords: photovoltaic–thermal collector; solar cooling; energy saving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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