Enhanced solar cascade utilization: Photocatalytic PV/T and PV-TEG/T systems for energy output and clean air

Guoyu Zhang, Wei Wei, Feiyang Xu, Weikai Wang, Huabo Wu, Jie Ji, Bendong Yu and Niansi Li

Renewable Energy, 2025, vol. 248, issue C

Abstract: The PV/T system, which generates both electrical and thermal energy, has garnered significant interest from researchers. However, the overall efficiency of traditional PV/T systems remains constrained without effective solar spectrum utilization. This paper proposes two cascade solar utilization systems: a photocatalytic-integrated PV/T system and a PV-TEG/T hybrid system. These systems aim to enhance comprehensive solar energy utilization efficiency by enabling simultaneous power generation, air purification, and heat recovery. A semi-transparent photocatalytic glass had been developed to separate ultraviolet light from the sun for air purification, while the remaining sunlight was used for electricity and heat generation. Based on a comprehensive evaluation of thermal and purification performance, we found that the two-layer coated photocatalytic glass PV/T system is optimal, achieving a thermal efficiency of 44.23 % and an electrical efficiency of 9.41 %. At a formaldehyde concentration of 500 ppb, it generates 63.1 m3/(h·m2) of clean air. Under air-water dual-phase cooling conditions, the integration of TEG improved the electrical efficiency of the photocatalytic PV/T system by 0.74 %. Energy consumption analysis of both systems in the Nanjing area indicated that the PV/T system can generate up to 93.33 m3/(h·m2) of clean air, with integrated efficiencies of 73.65 % and 77.96 %, respectively, when combined with TEG.

Keywords: PV/T; PV-TEG; Photocatalytic purification; Solar cascade utilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:248:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125008158

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123153

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