Design, Development, and Performance Evaluation of a New Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) Air Collector: From Lab Testing to Field Measurements

Abstract

Over the last decade, the market has experienced a growing interest in hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) technologies, although more long-term studies are needed before air-based PVT panels are fully implemented. In this paper, we present the experimental framework developed around an air-based PVT collector, consisting of a high-quality photovoltaic laminate and a newly designed thermal absorber. The experimental performance of the collector was measured both in lab testing and in a pilot plant during one of the field operations. Results show an almost constant electrical performance of 15–19%, and a thermal performance that changes a lot, ranged between 15–52% for the individual panel and 11–35% for the system of 2.5 panels in series (to maximize output temperature). Field operation presents average thermal and electrical efficiencies ranged between 16–20% with an electrical–thermal generation ratio close to 1:1.