Performance of a Hybrid PV/T Thermosyphon System
Date Issued
May 2005
Abstract
Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) units are systems capable of producing both electrical
and thermal energy in a single unit. Thermosyphon units are solar systems employing flatplate
collectors which are suitable for low temperature applications, like domestic hot water
production. In this paper a hybrid PV/T thermosyphon system is modeled and simulated with
TRNSYS program. The system’s hybrid collectors are glazed, 4m2 in area and the hot water
storage tank is 160 liters. Both polycrystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells are
considered. The system is simulated on an annual basis at three different locations, Nicosia,
Cyprus; Athens, Greece and Madison, Wisconsin. The results show that the electrical
production of the system, employing polycrystalline solar cells, is 532 kWh, 515 kWh and
499 kWh and the solar thermal contribution is 0.686, 0.564 and 0.293 for the three locations
respectively. The respective results for the system employing amorphous silicon cells are 260
kWh, 251 kWh, 224 kWh and 0.726, 0.601 and 0.341 for the three locations respectively. A
non hybrid PV system produces about 30% more electrical energy but the present system
covers also, depending on the location, a large percentage of the hot water needs of a house.
and thermal energy in a single unit. Thermosyphon units are solar systems employing flatplate
collectors which are suitable for low temperature applications, like domestic hot water
production. In this paper a hybrid PV/T thermosyphon system is modeled and simulated with
TRNSYS program. The system’s hybrid collectors are glazed, 4m2 in area and the hot water
storage tank is 160 liters. Both polycrystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells are
considered. The system is simulated on an annual basis at three different locations, Nicosia,
Cyprus; Athens, Greece and Madison, Wisconsin. The results show that the electrical
production of the system, employing polycrystalline solar cells, is 532 kWh, 515 kWh and
499 kWh and the solar thermal contribution is 0.686, 0.564 and 0.293 for the three locations
respectively. The respective results for the system employing amorphous silicon cells are 260
kWh, 251 kWh, 224 kWh and 0.726, 0.601 and 0.341 for the three locations respectively. A
non hybrid PV system produces about 30% more electrical energy but the present system
covers also, depending on the location, a large percentage of the hot water needs of a house.
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