Title: Optimisation of series and parallel combination of N-SPVT air collectors based on overall thermal energy and exergy

Authors: G.N. Tiwari; Prashant Bhardwaj; Sujata Nayak; Arvind Tiwari

Addresses: Bag Energy Research Society, Jawahar Nagar (Margupur), Chilkhar-221701, Ballia (UP), India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, Haryana, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, Haryana, India ' Bag Energy Research Society, Jawahar Nagar (Margupur), Chilkhar-221701, Ballia (UP), India

Abstract: It is established that solar collectors connected in series for a constant mass flow rate in forced mode provide variable higher operating temperatures. In this case, thermal energy can be stored in a separate insulated storage tank for later application preferably either in domestic or preheating of industrial requirements. However, some industries need constant outlet temperature due to its sensitive nature, particularly in solar drying/cotton industries. Hence in this paper, we have analysed a semi-transparent photovoltaic integrated air collector referred as SPVT air collectors which are connected in the combination of series and parallel keeping the collection outlet temperature constant. For a typical day in New Delhi, India, modelling of SPVT and numerical computations has been done using basic energy balance equations. The optimisation of design parameters has been done based on overall thermal energy and exergy. It has been found that overall thermal energy and exergy are independent of series and parallel combinations keeping the collection temperature constant. The effect of constant collection temperature, number of SPVT air collectors, and packing factor has also been studied.

Keywords: solar energy; photo-voltaic thermal; PVT; module; air collector and exergy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2023.130033

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2023 Vol.14 No.2, pp.171 - 191

Received: 21 Jan 2022
Accepted: 12 Aug 2022
Published online: 04 Apr 2023 *

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