Numerical Simulation of Electric-Thermal Performance of a Solar Concentrating Photovoltaic/Thermal System

Combined photovoltaic/thermal system with concentrator is an efficient way to convert more solar radiation into thermal and electric energy and make it in practicable. In this work, A single-pass photovoltaic/thermal solar system with three trough concentrators and fins is designed and its electric-thermal performance over arrange of operating conditions is analyzed. The steady state heat transfer models are developed for various components of the solar system. The effects of various important designing and operational parameters on the temperature distribution for mainly components, the thermal and electricity as well as system efficiency of the PV/T system are analyzed. The results show that the temperature of the air stream and solar cell increases with an increase in the length of the system. The thermal, electrical and system efficiency of the hybrid photovoltaic/thermal system increases with increasing the air mass flow rate, the length and the packing fraction of the system. The performance of the system with the CPC is more perfect than without. The results are valuable to design and operate this type of concentrating PV/T system.