A Numerical Study of Dual-Inlet Air-Cooled PV/T Solar Collectors with Various Airflow Channel Configurations

Abstract

The multi-inlet air-cooled photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) technology not only avoids the poor heat transfer conditions of single-inlet PV/T air collectors but also reduces photovoltaic (PV) peak temperature and improves solar energy utilization. Since air-cooled PV/T collectors use no more than three inlets, the increase in thermal efficiency is significantly more effective. Therefore, a numerical analysis of an air-cooled PV/T solar collector with two side inlets was performed. The heat transfer efficiency and flow characteristics were then investigated for various air channel configurations. Increasing the area of the second inlet improves thermal and electrical efficiency. As the length ratio of the front and rear airflow channels is reduced, the average outlet temperature first decreases and then increases. The heat-exchanging quantity of the dual-inlet air-cooled PV/T collector is minimal. The thermal efficiency of the dual-inlet air-cooled PV/T collector can be elevated by increasing the angle between the solar panel and the bottom plate. However, the average temperature of the solar panels is increased and the photoelectric conversion efficiency decreased. This design will achieve a reduction in carbon emissions and an increase in the proportion of clean energy in a low- or zero-carbon green building.