Design and Characterization of a Hybrid Flat Plate Photovoltaic-Thermal System
Keywords:
hybrid, photovoltaic, solar, thermalAbstract
A variety of solar energy systems have been designed to harness sun power to produce both thermal and electric energy. Hybrid photovoltaic /thermal (PV/T) solar systems can concurrently provide electric energy and heat, thereby ensuring a higher conversion rate of the absorbed solar radiation. With proper designing, the PV/T systems can minimize the temperature effects on efficiency of a PV module by cooling it. In this paper, we present TRNSYS simulation results for a hybrid PV/T system for domestic water applications for a typical Kenyan family of five. Further, the results of the constructed PV/T system as predicted by the simulations are outlined and discussed. The PV/T system was constructed from polycrystalline silicon module available in the Kenyan market and coupled with water heat extraction unit. The
resultant PV/T system was found to meet 47% of the hot water demand for family of five. With a payback period of 5.2 years, the PV/T system gives a lifetime cost saving of about Kshs.85941. The combined system efficiency range is between 37 and 62%. These figures are quite promising and they indicate that the PV/T system can be economically viable for a typical Kenyan household of five persons especially when electricity and hot water are required for domestic applications.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Ondara Wycliffe Nyariki , David M. Mulati, David M. Maina

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