Photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector

Schematic cross section of an uncovered PVT collector with sheet-and-tube type heat exchanger and rear insulation:
1 - Anti-reflective glass
2 - Encapsulant (e.g. EVA)
3 - Solar PV cells
4 - Encapsulant (e.g. EVA)
5 - Backsheet (e.g. PVF)
6 - Heat exchanger (e.g. aluminum, copper or polymers)
7 - Thermal insulation (e.g. mineral wool, polyurethane)

Photovoltaic thermal collectors, typically abbreviated as PVT collectors and also known as hybrid solar collectors, photovoltaic thermal solar collectors, PV/T collectors or solar cogeneration systems, are power generation technologies that convert solar radiation into usable thermal and electrical energy. PVT collectors combine photovoltaic solar cells (often arranged in solar panels), which convert sunlight into electricity, with a solar thermal collector, which transfers the otherwise unused waste heat from the PV module to a heat transfer fluid.[1] By combining electricity and heat generation within the same component, these technologies can reach a higher overall efficiency than solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal (T) alone.[2][3]

Significant research has gone into developing a diverse range of PVT technologies since the 1970s.[4] The different PVT collector technologies differ substantially in their collector design and heat transfer fluid and address different applications ranging from low temperature heat below ambient up to high temperature heat above 100 °C.[5]

  1. ^ Sreekumar, Sreehari.; Pugsley, Adrian.; Chakrabarti, Supriya.; Hewitt, Neil.; Mondol, Jayanta.; Shah, Nikhilkumar. (2024). "Experimental investigation on the performance of MXene/C-dot hybrid nanofluid-based photovoltaic/thermal system: An Energy, Exergy, and Enviro-Economic analysis". Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 272 (29): 112904. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2024.112904.
  2. ^ Sreekumar, S.; Shah, N.; Mondol, J.; Hewitt, N.; Chakrabarti, S. (June 2022). "Numerical Investigation and Feasibility Study on MXene/Water Nanofluid Based Photovoltaic/thermal System". Cleaner Energy Systems. 103: 504–515. Bibcode:2022CESys...200010S. doi:10.1016/j.cles.2022.100010. S2CID 249738724.
  3. ^ Zenhäusern, Daniel; Bamberger, Evelyn (2017). PVT Wrap-Up: Energy Systems with Photovoltaic-Thermal Solar Collectors (PDF). EnergieSchweiz.
  4. ^ Chow, T. T. (2010). "A review on photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar technology". Applied Energy. 87 (2): 365–379. Bibcode:2010ApEn...87..365C. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.06.037. S2CID 73537464.
  5. ^ Zondag, H.A.; Bakker, M.; van Helden, W.G.J. (2006). PVT Roadmap - A European guide for the development and market introduction of PV-Thermal technology.