Title: Thermodynamic performance analysis of a hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV/T) integrated greenhouse air heater and dryer

Authors: P. Barnwal, Arvind Tiwari

Addresses: Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016, India. ' Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Krishna Institute of Engineering and Technology, 13 KM Stone, Ghaziabad-Meerut road, Ghaziabad – 201 206, India

Abstract: In this paper, performance analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) greenhouse air heater and dryer has been carried out. Analytical expressions have been developed for: greenhouse air temperature, instantaneous and overall energy and exergy efficiencies for without load, and instantaneous exergy efficiency with load under forced mode operation. An experimental validation has been carried out for without load condition. It has been observed that exergy efficiency of the greenhouse air heater is less than the thermal efficiency, and exergy efficiency with load is lower than that of without load as expected. Parametric studies have also been carried out.

Keywords: energy analysis; exergy analysis; solar energy; photovoltaic-thermal; photovoltaics; greenhouse air heaters; greenhouse air dryers; integrated heater-dryer; exergy efficiency; thermal efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2009.023348

International Journal of Exergy, 2009 Vol.6 No.1, pp.111 - 130

Published online: 19 Feb 2009 *

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