Investigation of the effect of physical factors on exergy efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) with air cooling

Abstract

Thermal photovoltaic systems are used to harness solar energy to generate electricity and thermal at the same time. In this technology, electrical efficiency is very low compared to thermal efficiency; as the cell surface temperature rises, the electrical efficiency decreases, so one of the ways to achieve high efficiency is exergy analysis. Exergy analysis of a process or system shows how much of the ability to perform the work or input exergy has been consumed by that process or system. In this research, an ordinary thermal photovoltaic panel with air cooling has been examined for exergy. To do this, it has identified the effective performance variables from a mechanical point of view, which are inlet air temperature, inlet air flow, and length (number of modules that are connected in series). The effect of changing each of the variables based on Saveh weather conditions has been simulated using MATLAB software. The results show that the exergy efficiency of the panel decreases with the inlet air temperature increasing. It was also observed that the optimal airflow is 0012 (kg/s) and will have the highest efficiency per 8.8 m length.