The potential of the concentrating photovoltaic technology has been evaluated from the thermal point of view in this paper. A model of a concentrating photovoltaic thermal system (CPV/T) was presented in order to size it and to evaluate its energy performance when it is used to satisfy the electric, heating and cooling loads referring to a domestic application. The choice and sizing of the CPV/ T system components is first of all considered. The triplejunction cells and the reflective optics with parabolic mirror concentrators of point-focus type assembled with a dual axis tracker, are adopted in order to obtain a high concentration system; an active cooling system of the photovoltaic cells is also considered. The CPV/T system allows recovering thermal energy at high temperature for the absorption heat pump working. The model analyzed the CPV/T system working in terms of: cell efficiency, module electric and thermal efficiency, thermal and electric energy provided by the cell and module, cell and cooling fluid temperatures. So, the simulation process allows realizing an energy analysis and defining the best configuration of the CPV/T system, evaluating its energy convenience in comparison with a traditional system under different working conditions.
Energy analysis of a concentrating photovoltaic thermal (CPV/T) system
RENNO, Carlo;PETITO, FABIO
2013-01-01
Abstract
The potential of the concentrating photovoltaic technology has been evaluated from the thermal point of view in this paper. A model of a concentrating photovoltaic thermal system (CPV/T) was presented in order to size it and to evaluate its energy performance when it is used to satisfy the electric, heating and cooling loads referring to a domestic application. The choice and sizing of the CPV/ T system components is first of all considered. The triplejunction cells and the reflective optics with parabolic mirror concentrators of point-focus type assembled with a dual axis tracker, are adopted in order to obtain a high concentration system; an active cooling system of the photovoltaic cells is also considered. The CPV/T system allows recovering thermal energy at high temperature for the absorption heat pump working. The model analyzed the CPV/T system working in terms of: cell efficiency, module electric and thermal efficiency, thermal and electric energy provided by the cell and module, cell and cooling fluid temperatures. So, the simulation process allows realizing an energy analysis and defining the best configuration of the CPV/T system, evaluating its energy convenience in comparison with a traditional system under different working conditions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
