SEASONAL ENERGY-EXERGY ANALYSIS OF A NEW FOLDABLE PHOTOVOLTAIC-THERMAL AIR COLLECTOR: AN EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY
Azim Doğuş Tuncer, Ataollah Khanları, Adnan Sözen
Abstract
Simultaneous generation of electricity and thermal energy can be done employing photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems. A significant issue in access to reliable and continuous energy is the power shortage in some regions in the world and the problems that arise accordingly. In this survey, yearly performance of a novel foldable PVT collector to be used in regions with limited access to energy has been experimentally and numerically investigated. In the first step of this survey, the CFD approach has been utilized to select the most efficient absorber design for the PVT air collector. In the next stage of the work, the PVT collector has been fabricated considering the numerical results and tested at different working condition in various seasons. Both numerical and experimental outcomes of the present work indicated the successful design of the foldable PVT system. The mean thermal efficiency of the portable PVT collector was attained in the range of 51.11-67.05%. The overall exergetic efficiency of the PVT system varied between 5.18 and 6.14%.