Thermal management of hybrid photovoltaic systems

Yong, Jonathan Kai Yeang (2021) Thermal management of hybrid photovoltaic systems. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

The photovoltaic cells are very sensitive to the temperature of their module. Any increase in temperature will largely affect the performance of the entire system. This is because heat can easily degrade any solar panel, causing it to produce lesser electricity when absorbing the same amount of solar radiation. This is why the studies of heat removal from its module are essential to optimize the performance of hybrid photovoltaic systems. Especially when Malaysia is at the equator with a hot-humid climate all year long. Although on certain occasions, the wind can provide additional cooling, it is still unreliable, to say the least, due to how unpredictable it comes. In this design, heat is transferred away from the collectors via water tubes, which lie underneath the glass panel. Two subsystems are joined to the collectors to utilize the heat generated. The primary subsystem is to heat a hot water storage tank, while the second subsystem is to provide space cooling into the interior household. At maximum solar irradiance, the temperature inside the water storage tank can rise to 43.8 °C, which requires further heating of 2.28 kWh to bring the temperature up to 50 °C. As for space cooling, the absorption refrigeration system can produce a maximum coefficient of performance at a value of 2.2. This subsystem will act as an additional application instead of replacing the air conditioner entirely due to how unreliable this system can be since the operating requirement is based on the availability of solar irradiance. With this hybrid photovoltaic system implemented, a breakeven point is calculated to be approximately one year. Although the hybrid photovoltaic system proposed has a high initial fixed cost, after a year, the cost of installing and operating installing the instant water heater and air conditioners will be more than the proposed system.

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