Experimental and theoretical analysis of hybrid concentrated photovoltaic/thermal system using parabolic trough collector

Abstract

In the current work, a hybrid concentrated photovoltaic thermal system was designed and coupled with a parabolic trough collector and investigated theoretically and experimentally for combined heat and power output. In the design, a photovoltaic module was mounted on a flat surface of parabolic trough absorber tube having semi cylindrical shape. A provision was made to cool photovoltaic panel from both the surfaces by flowing water through the absorber tube as well as the annulus of between absorber tube and glass cover. The model was developed using first law of the thermodynamics and then validated using experimental data generated through the fabricated setup. During the experimentation, the annulus flow rate was varied from 0.008 kg/s, 0.017 kg/s and 0.025 kg/s and inner flow rate was varied from 0.075 kg/s, 0.083 kg/s and 0.091 kg/s. The field testing results showed the mean overall efficiency of system obtained as 61.42%, 64.61% and 66.36% for inner tube flow rate of 0.075 kg/s, 0.083 kg/s and 0.091 kg/s respectively for annulus flow rate of 0.008 kg/s. The theoretical results of hybrid system obtained from the simulation are in good agreement with the experimental data. In the end environmental cost analysis was also carried out for the proposed system.