B. Srimanickam ¹, M. M. Vijayalakshmi ², E. Natarajan ¹

Affiliations
1 Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, Chennai - 600 025, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Department of Civil Engg, Sathyabama University, Chennai - 600 119, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

This research study presents the thermal analysis of photovoltaic thermal hybrid system with cooling channel with V-baffles. Solar intensity, ambient temperature, inlet and outlet air channel temperature, glazing temperature, tedlar temperature, velocity of air inside the duct and mass flow rate of air are measured and used to calculate the thermal performance of photovoltaic thermal hybrid system. The maximum thermal, equivalent thermal and overall thermal efficiency of the PVT system with cooling channel with V-baffles are found to be 18.9%, 36.5% and 48.8% respectively. The present experimental performances is found to be in reasonable agreement with the earlier published results.

Keywords

Photovoltaic Thermal Hybrid System, Thermal Performance, V-Baffles

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R. Senthil Kumar ¹, N. Puja Priyadharshini ², E. Natarajan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai – 600025, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, K C G College of Technology, Chennai – 600097, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

A novel technology has been developed that forwards the photovoltaic panel cooling into an innovative step ahead: solar PV/TC (photovoltaic, thermal, and cooling). In the proposed PV/TC system along with electrical energy both heat and cold energy are simultaneously generated in a useful manner based on semiconductor components. This semiconductor component is working based on Peltier effect. In this approach, thermo electric cooling (TEC) module is connected on the back side of the solar PV module firmly with aluminium heat sink. In operating mode, the PV panel generates electrical energy, simultaneously the TEC module assimilates heat from the back side of the PV panel and delivers into heat sink. The heat rejected from the sink is utilized for domestic and industrial applications. The experiments are administered on clear days during the month of August 2014. A comprehensive geometric model is developed and simulated via ANSYS workbench so as to evaluate the thermal behaviour on each layer of the PV panel. The simulated results are compared with the experimentally measured values and found to be in good agreement. The RMSE1, RMSE2 and R-squared values were obtained for top panel temperature is 4.96659, 0.096469 and 0.96801 respectively. The RMSE1, RMSE2 and R-squared values were obtained for rear panel temperature is 4.860556, 0.117196 and 0.92557 respectively. It is also found that the maximum electrical efficiency, panel top temperature, PV panel rear temperature and outlet air temperature of PV/TC panel is about 11.87%, 54.5°C, 43.1°C and 46.3°C respectively. The fundamental advantage of this concept is by coupling TEC with solar panel, increases electrical efficiency and life of the solar panel.

Keywords

PV/TC, Photovoltaic, Peltier Effect, Thermoelectric Cooling

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D. Revati ¹, E. Natarajan ¹

Affiliations
1 Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, Chennai - 600 025, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

The main objective of the present work is to investigate an effect of the temperature on the performance of the solar cell. In order to accomplish this study, solar panel has been tested under three different conditions such as, solar panel without cooling, solar panel placed in grass field and solar panel with air cooling. During testing, solar cell parameters such as open circuit voltage, short circuit current, surface temperature, panel temperature and ambient temperature have been observed. The results obtained clearly show that solar panel with air cooling has generated the maximum open circuit voltage and short circuit current while comparing to other two test conditions. For every 15 minutes, solar panel has been made to cool with air so as to decrease the temperature rise of the solar panel. Based on the test results, it could be concluded that solar panel integrated with air cooling system is expected to achieve higher electrical efficiency owing to improved power generation. The present work could be beneficial to understand the effect of temperature on the cell parameters and performance of the solar panel.

Keywords

Air Cooling, Electrical Efficiency, Solar Cell, Solar Radiation, Temperature Rise

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