High output electrical energy is obtained from photovoltaic (PV) systems subject to high
irradiance. However, at high irradiance, the efficiency of PV systems drops due to increase of
the temperature of the systems. In order to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic systems, much
effort has been spent on developing hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems using water as a
coolant to withdraw heat from solar modules.
This research is focused on the study of the behavior of hybrid PVT collectors using rectangular
channel profiles which provide a large surface for heat exchange between PV panels and thermal
collectors unlike the circular channel profile used in conventional PV systems. In hybrid PVT
systems, coolant water circulates in a closed circuit by means of the thermosyphon phenomenon
and the heat from this water is extracted from a storage tank and can be used in hot water
systems instead of an electric geyser.
Numerical models of water velocity in channels due to the thermosyphon phenomenon and the
temperature of solar modules was developed and a system was designed for modest Durban
household demand. A simulation was run for specific summer and winter days comparing a
conventional PV system and a hybrid PVT system. The results were very encouraging, and
demonstrated that the equipment is capable of extending the PVT application potential in the
domestic sector where more than 40% of electricity cost is heating water. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/10406 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Mutombo, Ntumba Marc-Alain. |
| Contributors | Inambao, Freddie L., Bright, Glen. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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