Solar Photovoltaic/Thermal Systems
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  Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal Systems
 
Hybrid photovoltaic (PV)/thermal systems represent one of the most promising new technologies of solar energy. It produces both electricity and heat from one integrated system. A typical photovoltaic system convert solar energy into electricity with an efficiency of 8%–18%, the rest of the energy is lost, mostly as heat.
A hybrid PV/Thermal system is a combination of both PV and thermal collectors in one. It consists of a PV component, which converts the solar radiation into electricity, and a thermal component, which captures heat from unused solar radiation and from the heat that is rejected by the PV component. The system produce both electricity and heat, simultaneously. 
 
Concentrating PV/Thermal System
Our PV/Thermal technology employ solar concentrators to focus the sunlight onto the PV cells. This has the advantage that it greatly reduces the amount of (expensive) solar cells needed. Concentrated systems have the effect of increasing the temperature of the solar cells, and thus the temperature of the available heat. However, effective removal of this heat is essential to prevent thermal destruction of the PV cells. Also, the efficiency of solar cells improves as the heat is removed away.
   
  Our design uses fresnel lenses as concentrators, along with a two-axis tracking system, and focus the sunlight to an intensity of 200 suns. The system incorporates conductive-metal plates (with piping) which are attached to the back of the PV cells for effective removal of the high temperature heat. Heat from the PV cells flow into the metal plates, and is absorbed by a synthetic oil working fluid flowing through the pipes.
   
  The heat collected by the synthetic oil is used to provide useful thermal energy, by transferring it to water (using a heat exchanger), to produce hot water, steam, or to provide the energy for a heat-driven air conditioning system. The overall efficiency of the hybrid PV/Thermal system is 60 - 75%.
   
  We provide custom design and system development of hybrid PV/Thermal, PV systems, and solar thermal systems for a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. Please Contact us for more information.
   
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
  References
 

1. Graham, V.A. and Hollands, K.G.T. A method to generate hourly solar irradiation, globally. Solar Energy, Vol. 44(6), 333-341, 1990.

2. Graham, V.A., Hollands, K.G.T. and Unny, T.E. A time series model for (the daily atmospheric transmittance) Kt with applications to global synthetic weather generation. Solar Energy, Vol. 40(2), 83-92, 1988.

3. Duffie, J.A. and Beckman, W.A. Solar Energy of Thermal Processes. John Wiley and Sons. New York. 1980.

4. Klucher, T.M.  Evaluation of models to predict insolation on tilted surfaces. Solar Energy, Vol. 23:110-114, 1979.

5. Graham, V.A., Hollands, K.G.T., and Unny, T.E. Stochastic variation of hourly solar radiation over the day.  Proc. of the ISES congress Sep. 1987. Hamburg, Germany. Pergamon Press, 1988

6. Graham, V.A., Hollands, K.G.T., and Unny, T.E. Stochastic modeling of the solar atmospheric transmittance.  Proceedings of ISES congress, 1985, Montreal, Canada.  Pergamon Press. 1986.