ENHANCEMENT OF THE OUTPUT POWER GENERATED FROM A HYBRID SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM

Abstract

This paper investigates the output power and increased the efficiency of a hybrid Photovoltaic/ Thermal (PV/T) modules through utilizing the heat generated from the surface of panels by one axial tracking of the hybrid PV/Tsystem by means of zenith angle and decreasing the heat generated from the PV modules by controlling the flow rate of the system. A comparison between theoretical and experimental work results for fixed and tracking PV/T hybrid system is presented. Comsol software package used to simulate the electromagnetic waves produced by the sun through solving Maxwell's equations in three dimensions and the sun irradiance is assumed to be Gaussian distribution across the twelve mourning hours. Beside that an experimental work is presented depending on the results conjured from the theoretical experience used in Comsol Multiphysics In the second part of the experimental work, one axial sun-tracking system is designed where the movement of a photo-voltaic module is controlled to follow the Sun's radiation using a Data acquisition card (DAQ) unit. Finally an active cooling system is designed and conducted to cool the fixed and tracking modules at which an absorber system consists of copper pipe welded with aluminium plate is attached underneath the PV modules to allow water flowing below the modules. In addition to the above an electrical analysis for both systems are presented where I-V, P-V, power with 12 mourning hour's and electrical efficiency. Beside that the thermal analysis for the fixed and tracking PV modules and the piping water are presented where the input, output temperatures, the total energy of heat losses and thermal efficiency are calculated. As a result, a significant enhancement in the total electrical efficiency is observed with acceptable increase in the output water temperature.