Opportunity to use PVT systems for water heating in industry

This paper presents a technical and economical assessment of the opportunity to use PVT systems for water heating in industry. For this purpose, a mathematical model is developed to evaluate the energy parameters and economic indicators according to three variables: solar irradiance, air temperature and water supply temperature. The critical reduced temperature parameter is defined corresponding to the zero difference between the output and input water temperature in the PVT system. The mathematical model developed is used to simulate the operation of such a system under different climatic locations in Romania. Numerical analysis revealed the influence of three variables on the energy parameters and economic indicators. The conclusion is that using a PVT system for water heating in industry is economically attractive, in the climatic conditions of Romania, and the payback period is lower than its lifetime.