Thermal efficiency of a hybrid solar collector: PV panel provided with a three coolants heat exchanger

A thermal model regarding a photovoltaic module has been developed and validated using experimental data. The aim of this study was to recovering heat wasted by Joule effect by adding the heat exchanger rear sensor and an additional window forward. We will also compare the thermal and electric performance a hybrid sensor covered with an additional pane with another uncovered in the aim of improving the efficiency of the sensor and the influence of air flows and then we will study the effect of the thermal conductivity of the metallic absorber on the most optimal system performance. The results showed that key design parameters such as the heat flux captured, air flows, and the thermal conductivity of the solid absorber had a significant influence on both the electrical and thermal efficiency of the hybrid sensor.

1. Introduction

Solar energy is distinguished from other resource-based carbon, low pollution and sustainable availability. Every day the sun sends to the earth more energy than the 6 billion inhabitants of the planet consume in 25 years. This resource is inexhaustible on a human scale; however, it is still largely untapped. But the PV cells presented some drawbacks such as the heating of the cell temperature junction and the low PV sensors yield (20 %).