Session: 10-01: Alternative Energy Conversion Technology (including Wind, Geothermal, Hydro, and Ocean)

Paper Number: 130328

130328 - Design and Simulation of a Novel and Efficient PVT System: Evacuated Tube Photovoltaic Thermal System 

Abstract: 

Single-junction photovoltaic (PV) systems are widely used for electricity generation and have an electrical efficiency of around 20% or less. This means that most of the energy absorbed by PV cells is wasted in the environment as heat. Also, the electrical efficiency of the PV cells decreases as the surface temperature of the cells rises. To address the mentioned issues, PVT systems have been introduced as a hybrid system to extract heat from PV panels and utilize it for domestic hot water, desalination, or space heating. Accordingly, PVT systems not only avoid wasting thermal energy from PV panels but also, improve the electrical efficiency of the system. Hybrid PVT Systems can reach a total efficiency of above 80%, and a recent study showed that PVT systems can reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by up to 18% by 2050. 
In single-junction photovoltaic (PV) systems, a large portion of the solar energy is converted to heat and dissipated to the environment as the electrical conversion efficiency of the PV cells is around 20% or less. Also, the electrical efficiency of the PV cells decreases with a rise in the surface temperature of the cells. Accordingly, PVT systems have been introduced as a hybrid system to extract heat from PV panels and utilize it for domestic hot water, desalination, space heating, etc. In this research, an advanced and novel Evacuated tube PVT system has been designed and simulated for highly efficient and sustainable cogeneration of heat and electricity. The PVT system is encapsulated inside an evacuated tube glazing that minimizes the convective heat losses to the environment. At a solar irradiance level of 900 W/m², the system can deliver hot water with an outlet temperature of 61.8 °C, thermal efficiency of 54.96%, and electrical efficiency of 15.81%. Thermal and electrical performances of the PVT system depend on the solar irradiance level and water outlet temperature, and in most cases, the total efficiency of the system is above 70%.For winter weather conditions, the system will be tested as a hybrid PVT for electricity generation and domestic hot water supply. The test will be conducted at different mass flow rates of water, solar irradiances, and nanoparticle mass fraction to evaluate the electrical and thermal performance of the system. 
For Spring and Summer weather conditions, the system will be integrated with a Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) module for water desalination. In this scenario, a vacuum pump with an external heat exchanger will be used to extract distilled water and condense it in a trap.

Presenting Author: Behnam Rohsanzadeh University of New Mexico

Presenting Author Biography: Mr. Behnam Rohsanzadeh is a PhD student at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. He received his master's and Bachelors degree from Islamic Azad University South Tehran Branch. He co-authored 5 peer-reviewed journal publications in the field of sustainable energy and energy efficiency improvement.

Authors:

Behnam Rohsanzadeh University of New Mexico
Peter Vorobieff University of New Mexico
Gowtham Mohan University of Houston