The international research group has presented all possible system plans and applications for photovoltaic-thermal technology (PVT). Their review includes conventional PV-T collectors, air-based systems, liquid-based installations, water-based collectors, refrigerant-based systems, heat pipe-based technologies, dual air-water systems, building-integrated PVT systems, and sealed systems. PVT collectors.
In the magazine “A review of solar hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) collectors and systems, published in Advances in Energy and Combustion Sciencesthe researchers explained that PVT technologies can offer strong potential in urban environments that traditionally have both thermal and electrical energy demand, but offer limited space for deployment.
Central to the development of the PVT system are the compromises between heat and electricity production, depending on different applications and environmental conditions. “This brings challenges to the design and operation of PV-T collectors, and solutions have been proposed to overcome this contradiction, for example by spectrum division,” the researchers elaborated.
In their work, they reviewed previous experimental and computational studies, identified opportunities for performance improvement, and analyzed the effects of widespread deployment at the level of solar energy systems.
“Specifically, we first proceed to classify and review the main types of PV-T collectors, including air-based, liquid-based, dual air-water, heat pipe, building-integrated and CPV-T collectors,” they said. “This is followed by a presentation of technical-economic performance improvement opportunities and paths to innovation for collectors. Here we cover state-of-the-art design changes, next-generation solar cell technologies, selective coatings, spectrum sharing, and nanofluids.
Their review includes conventional PV-T collectors, air-based systems, liquid-based installations, water-based collectors, refrigerant-based systems, heat pipe-based technologies, dual air-water systems, building-integrated PVT systems, and sealed systems. PVT collectors.
Their analysis also includes potential collector conversion designs, PVT configurations for glasses, new heat absorber technologies, and the use of phase change materials (PCMs) and aerogels. Furthermore, it explains how new technologies such as tandem solar cells, selective coatings, spectrum splitting, dichroic mirrors/filters, holographs, luminescent splitters/concentrators, nanofluids or heat transfer and optical absorption techniques can be integrated into PVT systems.
The study also provides a final overview of all the conclusions reached by the group and a set of recommendations for the future use of PVT technologies. In the future, they said, more studies on the long-term performance of PV-T systems are needed to assess the long-term reliability of PV-T collectors, as well as system cost estimates and certification rules for PV-T collectors.
The research team included researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Birmingham in Great Britain, Zhejiang University in China, Boise State University in the United States, Cyprus University of Technology and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Australasia.
