Numerical Study to Enhance the Electrical and Thermal Efficiency of PV/T System

Abstract

At increases the PV module temperature, electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic cells will be decreases. Due to facing the PV module to the solar irradiance to generate electricity, heating the PV cells is inevitable. A thermal channel collector can be used to absorbed heat from a PV cells, this heat absorbed from the cells can be using for other application, therefore increasing the electrical and conversion efficiency. The thermal collector system consists of a rectangular channel made from insulating materials (form) and on it the round water guides, is mounted to the backside of PV panel, through which water flow. In this modeling and numerical study, to solve this problem, was adding a cooling system to the PV panel. In the result, the benefit from this work to cooling the solar cells and increase the electrical efficiency, also to obtain heat gain in the form of hot water. Shown the simulation results, the absorber of thermal collector channel generates the maximum electrical efficiency of 14.6674% with maximum thermal efficiency of 82.532% at ambient of temperature set between 27 C to 32 C, set the temperature of inlet water at 27 C, water flow rate range (1-5) Liter/minute by increasing ratio of (1Liter/minute) and solar radiation between 300 to 1000 (W/m2) by increasing ratio of 100 (W/m ). Because high effectiveness and perfect the contact surfaces between the PV module and the thermal collector channel underneath, the recommended of (PV/T) system to enhance heat transfer.