Design, Fabrication and Performance Enhancement of Photovoltaic Thermal Collector by using different Heat Transfer Fluids

In this study, a flat plate photovoltaic thermal (FPVT) collector capable of delivering electricity and heat was designed and developed, and the system was tested outdoors at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), H-12 Islamabad, Pakistan (33°38’ 32.5” N, 72°59’ 03.6” E). Different parameters were evaluated, including the effect of various heat transfer fluids (HTF) on the temperature of PV cells with and without implementing the cooling mechanism, PVT thermal efficiency as a function of flowrate, and the overall performance of the PVT collector. Permitting the temperature of the PV cells adhered to the copper absorber to rise, the pump was activated when the temperature of both the cells and the absorber plate reached its maximum. By comparing the ON/OFF coolant mechanism, this study was able to achieve a 60.2% reduction in cell temperatures at coolant ON condition. At a maximum flow rate of 1 1/min, the maximum electrical, thermal, and total efficiency of the PVT collector were measured to be 16.53, 49.91, and 66.44%, respectively. With good adherence to the literature, this PVT system effectively determined the electrical and thermal performance of the PVT collector.