On the performance of concentrating fluid-based spectral-splitting hybrid PV-thermal (PV-T) solar collectors
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Concentrating fluid-based spectral-splitting hybrid PV-thermal (SSPVT) collectors are capable of high electrical and thermal efficiencies, as well as high-temperature thermal outputs. However, the optimal optical filter and the maximum potential of such collectors remain unclear. In this study, we develop a comprehensive two-dimensional model of a fluid-based SSPVT collector. The temperature distributions reveal that these designs are effective in thermally decoupling the PV module from the high-temperature filter flow-channel, improving the electrical performance of the module. For a Si solar cell-based SSPVT collector with optical filter #Si400-1100, the filter channel is able to produce high-temperature thermal energy (400 °C) with an efficiency of 19.5%, low-temperature thermal energy (70 °C) with an efficiency of 49.5%, and electricity with an efficiency 17.5%. Of note is that the relative fraction of high-temperature thermal energy, low-temperature thermal energy and electricity generated by such a SSPVT collector can be adjusted by shifting the upper- and lower-bound cut-off wavelengths of the optical filter, which are found to strongly affect the spectral and energy distributions through the collector. The optimal upper-bound cut-off always equals the bandgap wavelength of the solar cell material (e.g., 1100 nm for Si, and 850 nm for CdTe), while the optimal lower-bound cut-off follows more complex selection criteria. The SSPVT collector with the optimal filter has a significantly higher total effective efficiency than an equivalent conventional solar-thermal collector when the relative value of the high-temperature heat to that of electricity is lower than 0.5. Detailed guidance for selecting optimal filters and their role in controlling SSPVT collector performance under different conditions is provided.
Date Issued
2021-08-01
Date Acceptance
2021-04-13
Citation
Renewable Energy, 2021, 174, pp.590-605
ISSN
0960-1481
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
590
End Page
605
Journal / Book Title
Renewable Energy
Volume
174
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/M025012/1
EP/R045518/1
EP/R511547/1
Subjects
Energy
0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
0913 Mechanical Engineering
0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-04-16