Numerical and Experimental Study of an Asymmetric CPC-PVT Solar Collector
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energies Article Numerical and Experimental Study of an Asymmetric CPC-PVT Solar Collector Pouriya Nasseriyan 1, Hossein Afzali Gorouh 1, João Gomes 2,3, Diogo Cabral 2 , Mazyar Salmanzadeh 1,* , Tiffany Lehmann 4 and Abolfazl Hayati 2 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman 76169-14111, Iran; [email protected] (P.N.); [email protected] (H.A.G.) 2 Department of Building Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainability Science, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden; [email protected] (J.G.);[email protected] (D.C.); [email protected] (A.H.) 3 R&D Department, MG Sustainable Engineering AB, Börjegatan 41B, 752 29 Uppsala, Sweden 4 Department of Energetics and Renewable Energies, Polytech de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France; tiff[email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +98-913-141-3523 Received: 28 January 2020; Accepted: 12 March 2020; Published: 3 April 2020 Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) panels and thermal collectors are commonly known as mature technologies to capture solar energy. The efficiency of PV cells decreases as operating cell temperature increases. Photovoltaic Thermal Collectors (PVT) offer a way to mitigate this performance reduction by coupling solar cells with a thermal absorber that can actively remove the excess heat from the solar cells to the Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF). In order for PVT collectors to effectively counter the negative effects of increased operating cell temperature, it is fundamental to have an adequate heat transfer from the cells to the HTF. This paper analyzes the operating temperature of the cells in a low concentrating PVT solar collector, by means of both experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation results on the Solarus asymmetric Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) PowerCollector (PC). The PC solar collector features a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) reflector geometry called the Maximum Reflector Concentration (MaReCo) geometry. This collector is suited for applications such as Domestic Hot Water (DHW). An experimental setup was installed in the outdoor testing laboratory at Gävle University (Sweden) with the ability to measure ambient, cell and HTF temperature, flow rate and solar radiation. The experimental results were validated by means of an in-house developed CFD model. Based on the validated model, the effect of collector tilt angle, HTF, insulation (on the back side of the reflector), receiver material and front glass on the collector performance were considered. The impact of tilt angle is more pronounced on the thermal production than the electrical one. Furthermore, the HTF recirculation with an average temperature of 35.1 ◦C and 2.2 L/min flow rate showed that the electrical yield can increase by 25%. On the other hand, by using insulation, the thermal yield increases up to 3% when working at a temperature of 23 ◦C above ambient. Keywords: cell temperature; CPVT; CPC; CFD 1. Introduction Climate change is an undeniable phenomenon. The greenhouse gases emissions caused by human activities are contributing to approximately 1 ◦C of global warming above pre-industrial levels (0.2 ◦C per decade) [1]. Energy production due to burning fossil fuels is the main source for increasing carbon emissions and this segment needs to switch to renewable energy sources, such as solar (both photovoltaic and thermal), water and/or wind, in order to prevent the most disruptive climate change Energies 2020, 13, 1669; doi:10.3390/en13071669 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies EnergiesEnergies 20202020,, 1313,, 1669x FOR PEER REVIEW 22 ofof 2121 45 climate change scenarios. In 2015, over 190 countries signed a legal agreement at the 21st yearly 46 scenarios.session of the In Conference 2015, over 190of the countries Parties (COP21), signed a legalto keep agreement global warming at the 21stbelow yearly 2 °C session(Paris Climate of the 47 ConferenceConference of[2]). the Global Parties (COP21),warming towill keep reach global 1.5 warming °C between below 2030 2 ◦C and (Paris 2052 Climate if greenhouse Conference gases [2]). 48 Globalemissions warming continue will at reach today’s 1.5 rate◦C between[1]. Technologies 2030 and based 2052 if on greenhouse renewable gases energies emissions are thecontinue solution atin 49 today’sorder to rate prevent [1]. Technologiesthis issue. The based sun is on free renewable and available energies everywhere. are the solution The active in order applications to prevent of solar this 50 issue.energy The technologies sun is free andare availablethe photovoltaic everywhere. panels The (PV) active to applications generate electricity of solar energy and solar technologies thermal 51 arecollectors the photovoltaic to generate panels heat. (PV)The low to generate surface electricitypower and and energy solar density thermal of collectors PV cells, toplus generate the limited heat. 52 Theavailable low surface ground power area, andcan energybe solved density by using of PV a cells, solar plus photovoltaic-thermal the limited available (PVT) ground system area, or, can if 53 becoupled solved with by using reflective a solar materials, photovoltaic-thermal composing a concentrated (PVT) system photovoltaic-thermal or, if coupled with reflective collector materials, (CPVT). 54 composingA PVT collector a concentrated produces both photovoltaic-thermal electrical and thermal collector power (CPVT). from Athe PVT same collector area. The produces conversion both 55 electricalefficiency andof solar thermal radiation power into from electricity the same for area.a commercial The conversion monocrystalline efficiency PV of cell solar is, radiationtoday, at 20%, into 56 electricitywith the forShockley–Queisser a commercial monocrystalline limit defining PV a cellmaxi is,mal today, theoretical at 20%, with efficiency the Shockley–Queisser of 33.7% for single limit 57 definingjunction cells a maximal [3]. The theoretical remaining e ffisolarciency radiation of 33.7% is converted for single to junction heat and cells wasted [3]. The (if no remaining Heat Transfer solar 58 radiationFluid (HTF) is convertedis used). The to heatefficiency and wasted of PV cells (if no decr Heateases Transfer by increasing Fluid (HTF) their is temperature used). The e[4].fficiency In a PVT of 59 PVsystem, cells decreasesHTF (air, bywater increasing or water their with temperature a percentage [4]. of In an a PVT anti-freeze system, fluid HTF (air,in case water of ora closed-loop water with 60 asystem) percentage is used of anto carry anti-freeze the excess fluid heat in case from of athe closed-loop PV cells to system) the thermal is used solar to carrysystem. the This excess method heat 61 fromaims theat increasing PV cells to the the overal thermall efficiency solar system. of PV This cells. method aims at increasing the overall efficiency of 62 PV cells.In a CPVT, the concentration factor defines the working temperature. Low concentration PVT 63 collectorsIn a CPVT, are typically the concentration limited to low factor working defines temp theeratures working (30–80 temperature. °C), which Low makes concentration them ideal PVT for 64 collectorsDomestic areHot typically Water limited(DHW) toapplications low working [5]. temperatures PVT collectors (30–80 are◦C), classified which makes according them idealto their for 65 Domesticoperating Hottemperature Water (DHW) range, applications system layout, [5]. PVT design collectors (glazed, are classifiedunglazed accordingand/or concentrating) to their operating and 66 temperaturetheir HTF (air range, and water) system [6]. layout, design (glazed, unglazed and/or concentrating) and their HTF (air 67 and water)Table [16 ].shows a brief combination of the components of solar energy technologies. These 68 combinationsTable1 shows consist a brief of combinationConcentrated-Photovolt of the componentsaics (CPV), of solarConcentrated-Thermal energy technologies. (CT) These and 69 combinationsPhotovoltaic-Thermal consist (PVT of Concentrated-Photovoltaics) systems. The combination of (CPV), all the Concentrated-Thermal above is called the Concentrated (CT) and 70 Photovoltaic-ThermalPhotovoltaic-Thermal (CPVT) (PVT) systems. collector. The combination of all the above is called the Concentrated Photovoltaic-Thermal (CPVT) collector. 71 Table 1. Combination of individual solar energy technologies. Table 1. Combination of individual solar energy technologies. Solar Photovoltaics Concentration PhotovoltaicsThermal Solar Thermal Concentration CPV CPV ☑ ☑ CT CT ☑ ☑ PVT ☑ ☑ PVT CPV CPVT ☑ ☑ ☑ T 72 WhenWhen comparedcompared toto thermal and PV systems individually,individually, PVTPVT collectors reach higher eefficiencyfficiency 73 byby reducingreducing thethe PVPV cellcell temperaturetemperature andand byby havinghaving fewerfewer rawraw materialsmaterials thanthan anan equivalentequivalent area ofof 74 thermalthermal andand PVPV andand useuse lessless installationinstallation area.area. TheThe mainmain disadvantagedisadvantage forfor PVTPVT collectorscollectors isis thethe highhigh 75 complexitycomplexity forfor collectorcollector productionproduction andand systemsystem installation.installation. 76 TheThe concentratingconcentrating collector is a practicalpractical approachapproach to focusfocus thethe solarsolar incidentincident radiationradiation onon aa 77 smallersmaller areaarea (receiver)(receiver) and and to to produce produce thermal thermal power power at higherat higher temperatures. temperatures. Concentration Concentration