Performance Analysis of a Two-way Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal Solar Collector

In this paper, the performance evaluation of a two-way hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar collector was analytically and experimentally carried out. Mathematical expressions for operating parameters in glass to glass and glass to tedlar PV/T solar collectors were developed and experimentally validated by a glass to tedlar PV/T solar collector system. Also the influence of air flow rate on the solar collector performance was investigated. The results showed that the glass to glass PV/T solar collector gave higher outlet air temperature, cell temperature and thermal efficiency than the glass to tedlar PV/T solar collector. However, back surface temperature and electrical efficiency were higher in case of glass to tedlar collector. Increasing the air flow rate led to a lower outlet air temperature and a higher electrical efficiency of the photovoltaic module. Maximum experimental electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency and overall thermal efficiency for the glass to tedlar PV module were found to be 10.35, 57.9 and 84.5%, respectively.